marine corps special operations command activated soal-t

Marine Corps Special Operations Command activatedSOAL-T delivers technology to frontline warfighter

SOF provides humanitarian hurricane reliefStationed for education: ‘Degree in Three’

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMANDMACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, FLA.

NOVEMBER 2005

T I P O F T H E S P E A R

T i p o f t h e S p e a r

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Departments

Chief Master Sgt. Bob MartensCommand Chief

Capt. Joseph CoslettChief, Command Information

This is a United States Special Operations Command publication.Contents are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, theU.S. Government, Department of Defense or USSOCOM. The contentis edited, prepared and provided by the USSOCOM Public AffairsOffice, 7701 Tampa Point Blvd., MacDill AFB, Fla., 33621, phone (813)828-4600, DSN 299-4600. E-mail the editor via Unclassified LAN [email protected]. The editor of the Tip of the Spear reservesthe right to edit all copy presented for publication.

Gen. Doug BrownCommander, USSOCOM

Col. Samuel T. Taylor IIIPublic Affairs Officer

Tech. Sgt. Jim MoserMr. Mike BottomsEditors

Tip of the Spear

Front Cover: 490th Civil Affairs Battalion Soldiers participate in a nighttime live-fire training exercise at the Iraqi army compoundfiring range on Forward Operating Base Iskandariyah, Iraq. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Edward G. Martens.

Global War On Terrorism Page 4Special Operations Command — Korea Page 18U.S. Army Special Operations Command 0Naval Special Warfare Command Page 26Air Force Special Operations Command Page 29Marine Special Operations Command Page 32Education Page 34Headquarters USSOCOM Page 36Special Operations Forces History Page 41

Special operators partnerwith Pararescuemen to

provide humanitarianhurricane relief

Pararescueman Staff Sgt. Mike Maroney assigned to TaskForce Katrina, shades a hurricane victim from the sunduring transport to a local hospital for emergency surgerydue to a ruptured Aorta. Pararescuemen and specialoperations warriors are brothers in arms in the Global Waron Terror. Photo by Airman 1st Class Veronica Pierce. Seepage 22.


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Highlights

SOAL-T deliverstechnologyhelping SOF warfightersmeet future and current requirements,page 16.

Marine CorpsSpecial Operations

CommandUSSOCOM’s newest component, page 32.

Stationed for education: ‘Degree in Three’special operators take advantage of educational,opportunities, page 34.


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By Spc. Chris StumpCJSOTF-AP

With an intensity and passion only possessed by thosetruly motivated about their mission, the Iraqi army’s newestsoldiers successfully completed initial training just outsideCamp Fallujah Oct. 6.

The virtues the new troops hold aren’t the only thingsetting them apart from other soldiers in the Iraqi Armythough. Every graduate is from the same tribe in the westernAl Anbar Province near Al Qaim along the Syrian border.

Many, if not most, of the men are relatives. All joined thefight to free their families and loved ones from the grasp ofterrorists who have brought violence to their homes, villagesand cities of volatile western Iraq.

“The terrorists come into our towns and kill. Only if wejoin the fight ourselves can we help protect our country,” saidPvt. Abdel.

Abdel said he knows what he’s doing is important andwill make Iraq a better place.

“The families and people of Iraq need to be rid of theterrorists. Iraq will only be better if we get more people tojoin and fight,” he said.

To effectively combat the terrorists who have enteredtheir lives, the Desert Protectors spent several weeks underthe instruction of special operations personnel from both theU.S. Navy and Army. During the course, the soldiers learnedindividual and squad movements, how to react to enemy fireand other necessary skills.

“I’m going to fight al Zarqawi’s followers,” Pvt. Ghedhaproudly proclaimed one day during a break at the riflemarksmanship range.

“We’re going to take everything we learn here and go

back and fight the terrorists.”“Iraq needs us to fight,” he continued. “This is our

country and we need to fight to keep it safe.”And fight they will, according to their instructors and

Iraq’s Ministry of Defense officials.“These soldiers will play an important part in keeping

western Iraq free of terrorists,” said one of the MoD’s ChiefWarrant Officers.

“This group will take everything they know and use it toattack the terrorists who have attacked them and theirfamilies,” he said. “They will ensure no terrorists come fromoutside Iraq and that those who are here already don’t stay.”

Providing freedom and security to those in their countrywho need it is why the soldiers joined the Iraqi army said themen. They would like to see Iraqis helping Iraqis in thefuture.

“If we don’t get out and fight, who will make sure ourfamilies – wives, children, parents and others – are free fromthe terrorists?” asked one of the trainees. “I joined because Ihave a strong commitment to my country – only if we alljoin together will we be free from those hurting us.”

Desert Protectors: Newest Iraqi army unit

A Special Operations Forces instructor watches a DesertProtectors squad conduct a maneuver and lay suppressivefire during a live-fire exercise. CJSOTF-AP photo.

New Iraqi army recruit practices close quarter combat drillsduring his training. The soldiers were being trained bySpecial Forces to combat anti-Iraqi forces in theirhometowns. CJSOTF-AP photo.

G L O B A L W A R O N T E R R O R I S M


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SOF conductsMEDCAP for800 IraqisCJSOTF-AP

More than 800 men, women,children and almost 500 sheep,goats, cows and chickens weretreated in a three day medical andveterinarian capabilities operationsin Tal Afar, Iraq, Oct. 10-12.

Six Americans — militarysurgeons, medics and veterinarians— along with Iraqi army and policemembers visited the villages ofBurghah, Avghani and Bughah justnorth of Tal Afar.

Not only did the opportunity tovisit these villages provide the U.S.Special Operations Forces and Iraqiforces with valuable training, but they were also able toprovide treatment for minor illnesses and a preventivemedical assessment of water, infrastructure and foodsources.

The medical and veterinary team were welcomed tothe village of Burghah on its first day of visits. Themedical team members treated about 250 Iraqis with awide range of ailments.

The veterinarian set up his equipment next to themedical team and immunized over 250 sheep, goats andcows.

The team also provided the village 250 doses of de-wormer for future immunization for their animals.

On the second day, the team visited the village ofAvghani. More than 500 individuals were examined andtreated by the medical team there.

The medical and veterinary team finished their threeday medical mission with visitsto both the villages of Avghaniand Burghulah. In the village ofBurghulah, a female militarydoctor treated over 60 womenand children.

Between the two villages,the veterinarian team treatedover 140 sheep, 60 chickens,several cows and a bull.

Throughout the visits, theIraqi Army and Police workedclosely together with U.S.forces to provide security for thevillagers.

A Special Forces medic treats anIraqi during a medical capabilityoperation in Tal Afar, Iraq, Oct. 10-12. CJSOTF-AP photo.

A Special Forces Soldier gives an Iraqi child a doll following a visit during amedical capability operation in Tal Afar, Iraq, Oct. 10-12. CJSOTF-AP photo.


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By Sgt. Brian McElaneyCJTF-HOA

As the Civil Affairs Team finished writing their noteson the family planning room in the Baytal Qudhi clinic, inTa’izz, Yemen, they noted the need for monitoringequipment such as a scale for infants and evidence of priordonations from several outside organizations.

“Is there something else that could be helpful here thatyou can think of?” asked the CAT 624 team medic, as helooked up from his notes.

Amah Abdumilah, the clinic’s family planner, smiled asshe listed needed vitamins and other small supplies for theremote clinic in the mountainside villages around Taiz. TheCombined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa has alreadybegun a $203,000 renovation project to expand the clinicservicing thousands of villagers within a 15 kilometer (9mile) radius. The assessment of the clinic could result inthe coordination of additional medical equipment for thissecluded village in southwestern Yemen.

The clinic represents several medical civil militaryoperations being conducted with the help of CJTF-HOAin Yemen. Members of the 96thCivil Affairs Battalion haveconducted medical andveterinary care, arranged formedical supply donations andcoordinated with CJTF-HOA’sengineers to arrange forexpansions and renovations for anumber of clinics.

“CA works on three pillars— health, education and civilrelations,” the medic said. “Allthree impact the communityand, in a way, provide a level ofstability.”

The need to create thisstability has been a foundationfor a cooperative effort betweenthe Yemeni government, CJTF-HOA’s coalition members andseveral other organizationsdesigned to bring aid to Yemen’sneediest people.

While the bigger cities haveadequate healthcare, remoteareas such as those here are

struggling to provide even simple wound care anddiagnosis of common ailments. Yemen’s relationship withthe United States and other nations is allowing muchneeded help to reach these areas.

As the CAT medic, he coordinates with national andlocal government agencies in Yemen to determine areas ofneed. Once areas are identified, several projects aresuggested by local leaders. It is important for a solidassessment to be made of the projects, according to themedic, to ensure money is being spent wisely and going tothose who need it most.

“If there are any other [Non-Governmentorganizations] donating equipment and supplies out here,we don’t want to step on their toes,” he said. “We canalways use our resources some place else where help hasn’tcome yet.”

Once the various projects have been assessed, the CATwill formulate a healthcare plan for the region —organizing donations from various organizations with fundsfrom CJTF-HOA. In Yemen, the CAT has worked to form

CAT organizes healthier life

See YEMEN, Page 7

Local villagers explain their water collection system to a Civil Affairs Team 624 teammedic as he assesses medical needs for the community. Photograph by Sgt. Brian E.McElaney.

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By Lance Cpl. Bernadette AinsworthCJTF-AP

Scores of insurgents were reportedlykilled, detained or fled from the town ofTal Afar Sept. 11 as coalition forceslaunched an offensive into the city, locatedabout 30 miles west of Mosul in northernIraq.

Now reconstruction and re-establishment of infrastructure in the cityhas been turned over to the 3rd ArmoredCavalry Regiment’s 401st Civil AffairsBattalion.

The Civil Affairs Soldiers have alreadybeen working on short-term projects in TalAfar, including school refurbishments,supplying food, road repair, fixingelectrical problems, digging wells fordrinking water and starting a localnewspaper.

Not only do the Soldiers repair andrefurbish buildings, their long-term goal is to empowerand teach the Iraqis to fix problems on their own whenthe coalition forces leave, said the commander ofCompany B, 401st CA Bn., Fort Bragg, N.C.

“Right now it is hard for the Iraqis to fix their ownproblems because of security issues,” the commandersaid. “Once security is improved and people aren’t afraidanymore, they can start to lead a normal life, whichincludes taking care of their city.”

The 3rd ACR liaison officer, said he is excited to be apart of the solution.

“I’m a military person with a humanitarian mission,”he said. “We’re doing great things, and it’s good to be apart of it.”

The reward of being able to sit down and talk withthe Iraqi’s is one of the best parts of the job, he said.

“They’re great people,” he said. “It’s nice to knowthat we’re working for a good cause here.”

401st rebuilds Tal Afar after offensive

Two U.S. Army captains talk to reporters and local residents of Tal Afar, Iraq,about the U.S. Army's plan to help rebuild the city. They are with the 401stCivil Affairs Battalion. Photo by Pfc. James Wilt.

relationships with large agencies such as the U.S. Agencyfor International Development, the World HealthOrganization and CARE as well as local organizations suchas Yemen Smile, a non-profit organization that treatschildren with cleft lips or palates.

“I think coming over to Civil Affairs has made me amore well-rounded medic,” he said about his experiences inorganizing efforts from these organizations. “When I cameinto Civil Affairs, I brought some of my tactical andmedical knowledge and applied it. Now, when I get back, Ican take the knowledge I learned from Civil Affairs into the combat forces. That way, if I am in an area where thereis a lack of Civil Affairs forces, I can maybe do some petprojects and bring this sort of help to people in otherplaces.”

YEMEN continued, Page 6

A Yemeni stone mason places a hand-cut block of stonewhile working on the foundation of an expansion of theBaytal Qudhi clinic, Yemen. Photo by Sgt. Brian McElaney.

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By Sgt. Brian E. McElaney,U.S. Marine Corps Public Affairs

Approximately 1,100 high school girls from the localcommunity here will have better educational opportunitiesand increased ability to take part in their society thanks to a$256,000 expansion and renovation of the Darshaad Girl'sSchool by the Combined Joint Task Force — Horn ofAfrica.

"You have noticed how the school is overcrowded,”said Hamida Ali Mohammed, principal of the DarshaadGirl's School. “After the completion of this project, thestudents will have much more room than before.”

The project is part of a series of schools, clinics andmedical and veterinary assistance programs coordinated byCJTF-HOA's 96th Civil Affairs Battalion detachment aspart of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 96th CAB is the only active-duty Army CivilAffairs unit. It is based at Fort Bragg, N.C., and some of itsSoldiers are currently deployed to Africa.

A new third floor is being added to the current structureto allow for more classrooms — allowing class sizes to becut in half. Additionally, new science labs are being addedon the second and third floors.

Secondary education is rare for young women inYemen. While there are six primary schools available forgirls in Aden, Darshaad is the only secondary school. Whenthe school first opened in 1998, enrollment was low, but inrecent years more families are allowing their daughters tocontinue their education, Hamida said.

“Of course my school is very specific and different thanthe other schools in this district,” Hamida said. “But it isnecessary for the girls here to be educated so that the otherhalf of the population can be activated. It is becoming asymbol that families in Yemen are now able to depend ontheir daughters.”

“There is an obvious kind of impact you can have whenyou build something like a school,” said the Civil AffairsTeam 624 team leader. “It makes the area more stable andreally helps people. We all think we have the greatest job inthe world, we get to fight the war on terror by buildingthings instead of tearing things down.”

Yemen currently has three times as many illiteratefemales than males, he said. However, both local andnational Yemeni government organizations have called onthe United States Embassy, Sana'a, CJTF-HOA and otherorganizations to help increase education in several areasthroughout the country. CJTF-HOA units are often a perfectfit to bring help to those who need it most because many

remote areas of Yemen are dangerous for foreign travelers.“Once you've been in the country, you learn it's a

country of peace loving people,” the team leader said. “Butwe have quite a higher level of security, so we can get intoareas that [other organizations] would normally ignore forsafety reasons.”

CJTF-HOA has undertaken a growing number ofprojects over the last few months, as the CA teams and USState Department officials work to improve relationshipswith officials throughout the country. When the CA teamsfirst started operating in Yemen, suspicion and roughrelations hindered their ability to move freely throughoutthe country. However a combination of coordination andfriendship has resulted in a building of trust in the coalitionunits hoping to bring aid to those in need.

At the Darshaad school, officials say these relationshipswill result in better education for thousands of youngwomen and a higher standard of living for Yemenis in Adenand the surrounding areas.

Classes continue at the Darshaad Girl's Secondary Schoolin Aden, Yemen as contractors work to add a third floor tothe building. The addition will lower classroom sizes andincrease the quality of education available at the area's onlysecondary school for girls. Photo by Sgt. Brian E.McElaney.

Civil Affairs Teams improve Yemen girl's school


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By Janice Burton U.S. Army JFK Special WarfareCenter and School

At first glance, Pfc. MatthewCretul would appear to be more athome on a football field than on adance floor, but on Sept. 30 Cretul puthis agility and strength to the test as heperformed a traditional Filipino danceduring Cultural Day at Lee FieldHouse.

Cretul and his fellow Soldiers, whoare currently enrolled in the SpecialOperations Language program throughthe U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School(SWCS), are not only learning to speaknew languages, they are learning thecultures associated with them. The cultural day showcasednine of the 10 designated languages taught at theschoolhouse.

The infusion of cultural awareness throughout the specialoperations training programs is not new. But with thetransformation of its training programs, SWCS is placing agreater emphasis on ensuring Soldiers leave the center with agreater cultural foundation and awareness of the countries inwhich they will be serving.

The event drew the more than 700 Soldiers currentlyenrolled in the language school as well as many members oftheir families. While there, they not only saw performances,they also were able to partake in traditional foods.

“What is language without context?” asked Maj. RodneyRose, commander of Co. C, 3rd Battalion, 1st SpecialWarfare Training Group — the unit charged with languagetraining. “A Soldier can learn a language, but if they don’tunderstand the context and nuances of that language, theywon’t be as effective. As special operations Soldiers, we arerequired to understand those nuances and the culture of thepeople we are working with in order to fulfill our missions.”

Rose, who along with the language instructors at SWCSorganized the event, works hard to ensure the cultural aspectis addressed throughout the students’ training. The languageinstructors — all native speakers — share their culture withthe students on a daily basis, whether it is by teaching propergreetings or showcasing traditional music and dance. Eachof the language classrooms is decorated in a style designed tobring cultural awareness to the students.

“In every aspect of our training we make sure thatcultural training is prominent,” Rose said.

In planning for the cultural day, the idea was not just toshow the students the culture but rather to let them be part ofit. Students were taught traditional music, dances andceremonies. They learned the history behind the customs, andthen they shared it with their fellow students as theyperformed on stage during the festivities.

“When we first started planning for this, the studentswere reluctant,” Rose said. “But as they got into it, theyrealized that this was going to be a lot of fun, and that whatthey were learning was really good stuff. They’ve spent a lotof time rehearsing, and today they are really excited aboutwhat they are doing and what they are going to learn.”

That was evident by the good-natured ribbing Soldiersdressed in traditional garb took from their friends, as well asby the cheers and high-fives following each performance.

Cretul, a Psychological Operations Soldier who islearning Tagalog, volunteered to demonstrate the intricatedance that involves stepping a pattern between two bamboopoles as they are raised and tapped together.

“I really enjoyed learning the dance and evenperforming. It was a blast,” he continued. “When you justlearn the language, you don’t really get the whole picture.When you deploy, you are going to be immersed in thatculture for six months at a time, so it’s really better to knowthe culture so you can relate to the people and gain theirtrust.”

Sonny Guerrero, an instructor at the school, was proud ofhis students performed, and their willingness and excitement.“These special operations Soldiers go to their host countrieswith more than language,” he said. “By knowing the culture,it opens doors for them to do their missions.”

Cultural skills — More than just language

Cultural skills play an important role in all special operations, like this ribbon cuttingceremony at the Al Abbassiya School in Najaf, Iraq, with the Al Abbassiya mayor and198th Civil Affairs Commander. Photo by Senior Airman Francisco Govea II.


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By Sandra Henry919th SOW/PA

Reservists from the 919th Special Operations Wing gotbetter acquainted with their Jordanian and Norwegiancounterparts while supporting special operations missionsabroad.

Over the summer, the wing sent 14 aircrew membersfrom the 5th Special Operations Squadron and a dozenmaintainers from the 719th Maintenance Squadron to supportAir Force Special Operations Command taskings for EarlyVictor 2005, an annual multinational exercise in Jordan. Theyalso took part in follow-on training in Norway.

The 5th SOS trained with U.S. Navy and Army SpecialOperations Forces as well as SOF units from Jordan, Kuwait,Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Italy during the Early Victorportion of the trip.

Missions aboard the MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraftincluded personnel airdrops, black-out landings, infiltration,

exfiltration, and night-vision goggle low-

level training, saidMaj. John Laird, 919th

Operations SupportSquadron planner.

Other than the flying

training accomplished, another major Early Victor objectivewas the bridge-building and interoperability trainingoccurring between all the participating countries, he said.Border security operations to halt trafficking and smugglingwere also a major focus.

“We all knew we were going to a place where theterrorist element is very active, so that was foremost in ourminds. However, because of the excellent support providedby the Force Protection Element at the U.S. EmbassyAmman and our own internal intelligence support providedby Senior Airman Mike Taber, I felt we were able to managethe threat and accomplish some good training,” Laird said.

The trip to Jordan also included a cultural exchange day.The Jordanians provided reservists a guided tour of thearcheological site of Petra; and reservists hosted a dinner forthe Jordanians at the deployed location, he said.

After mission accomplishment in Jordan, the Duke Fieldteam set out for Norway.

Although the original tasking was for Early Victorparticipation, timing was excellent for the 5th SOS to also

make the stop to work with the NorwegianJaegerkorps, said Roy Vaughn, AFSOC planner for

the Norway bilateral exercise. “The switch was like night and day,” Laird

said. “We went from a hot, brown, barrenlandscape to one of lush green and moderate

temperatures.”Norwegians are part of the coalition

for the war against terrorism, Vaughnsaid. The exercise familiarizescoalition partners in the use of U.S.SOF air support in a deep battleenvironment to enhance futurecoalition operations anddeployments.

The Combat Shadow served asa platform for high-altitude static line

Jaegerkorps jumps. The drops wereconducted at about 18,000 feet above sea

level. Other joint training includedinfiltration, exfiltration and aerial re-supply of

food and water, he said. While aircrew members were

busy flying missions, maintainerswere working hard to keep the

919th trains with coalitionpartners in Jordan, Norway

A Norwegian Jaegerkorps jumps out of an MC-130P Combat Shadow flying at about18,000 feet above sea level. AFSOC photo.


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Air Force takes delivery of first CV-22

Norwegian Jaegerkorps prepare for the high-altitude static line jump. “The Norwegian special operations forces were well-trained professionals who spoke excellent English,” said Maj. John Laird, 919th Operations Support Squadron planner.“They were very enthusiastic to be hosting us.” AFSOC photo.

plane flying, said Senior Master Sgt. Stan Lasko, 719th MXSproduction superintendent for the trip.

“As with any mission, maintenance support is vital,”Laird said. “If the plane doesn’t work, the operators can’t flyand accomplish the mission. Throughout the deployment,Lasko and the maintenance team busted their butts to makesure we had a flyable plane and we did every time.

“To successfully complete any mission, exercise orcontingency operation, it all boils down to the quality ofpeople you take along and the support you receive fromhome,” he added. “From the aircrew to the maintainers andsupport folks, both with us and back at home station, allmade this deployment a success.”

The U.S. Air Force took delivery of the firstproduction representative CV-22 Osprey atthe Bell Helicopter production facility inAmarillo, Texas Sept.16. The current program callsfor the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Commandto field 50 CV-22s to join the Global War onTerrorism and other special operations missions.

The aircraft will conduct an Operational UtilityEvaluation next year, followed by InitialOperational Test and Evaluation. The CV-22is scheduled to complete developmentaltesting at Edwards AFB, Calif., in Sept. 2007,with Initial Operational Capability (IOC)scheduled in 2009.


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Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeldvisits U.S. Special Operations CommandBy Mike BottomsUSSOCOM Public Affairs

Secretary of Defense,Donald Rumsfeld paid a visit toU.S. Special OperationsCommand in early October toreceive briefings on thecommand’s actions in the Waron Terror.

America has one goal in thewar on global terrorism: “It’svictory — unconditional,unapologetic and unyielding,”Rumsfeld said.

“Your mission is to be onthe offense; it’s to go on theattack, and that’s what ourforces are doing — They’reengaging the enemy where theylive so that they do not attack uswhere we live.”

While at MacDill, Rumsfeldalso visited U.S. CentralCommand and conducted a townhall meeting for the men and women of both majorcommands and the 6th Air Mobility Wing.

At SOCOM, hemet with the Gen.Doug Brown,USSOCOMcommander, and otherflag and generalofficers who gave the Secretary an operational brief onworldwide Special Operations Forces activities.

After finishing his SOCOM visit, Rumsfeld paid avisit to USCENTCOM where he received a currentsituation brief on Pakistan’s earthquake disasterassistance.

Next, Rumsfeld headed to MacDill’s Gen. BenjaminO. Davis Conference Center and conducted a town hallmeeting. The Secretary began by thanking the militaryeffort assisting in the disaster relief efforts in Pakistanand India. “Your efforts show the compassion andprofessionalism of the men and women in the U.S.military,” he said.

Rumsfeld discussed a myriad of topics including

equipment acquisition, intelligence gathering strategies,democratization of Iraq, medical processes, media

relations and militarytransformation.

Rumsfeld finishedby reminding theaudience we are in a“test of wills”

concerning the Global War on Terrorism and how muchhe appreciated the contributions of the military.

“You fight today so that our children and theirchildren might not have to experience the heartbreak ofsomething like Sept. 11,” Rumsfeld said. “And the menand women in uniform — you and your associates allacross the globe — are displaying resolute courage, thekind of courage that's defined our country through thegenerations.”

Leaving MacDill, Rumsfeld traveled to United StatesSouthern Command and Key Biscayne Florida, to hostthe Ministers of Defense and Security of the CentralAmerican nations at a conference themed “Security andEconomic Opportunity.”

Gen. Doug Brown (right), commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, greetsSecretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld at MacDill AFB Fla. Photo by Mike Bottoms.

“SOCOM is making great progress in the GlobalWar on Terrorism.”— Secretary Rumsfeld


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By Tech. Sgt. Jim MoserUSSOCOM Public Affairs

U.S. Special Operations Forces are engagedthroughout the world fighting the Global War onTerrorism. They work hand-in-hand with ambassadors,country teams abroad and policy makers in Washingtonto ensure the safety and security of the United States.

Though everyone is on the same team, sometimesdifferent elements of the teams see things differently, andcoordinating the various roles can be difficult.

In this crossroads of politics and war, MarshallAdair, U.S. Special Operations Command’s politicaladvisor is helping the command navigate the dynamicrelationship between the State Department and themilitary.

Adair, a minister-counselor in the Senior ForeignService, advises Gen. Doug Brown, SOCOM’s four-starcommander, and his staff on how U.S. special operationsand foreign policy mesh, and how they may be mutuallyconstraining or supportive. He is also responsible forcoordinating with the Department of State and U.S.diplomatic posts abroad.

His experience includes a variety of diplomaticpositions overseas and at the State Department. Theseincluded posts in Europe (France & Bosnia-Herzegovina), Africa (Democratic Republic of theCongo), and Asia (Burma and four different posts inChina: Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing, & Chengdu). InWashington he has served as an international tradenegotiator, Deputy Assistant Secretary for EuropeanAffairs and president of an association representingAmerican diplomats and their profession.

With more than 30 years experience in diplomacy, hefinds the POLAD position here one of his morechallenging diplomatic assignments.

“SOCOM is a very interesting case,” he said. “Withour global mandate (lead DOD command in the War onTerrorism) we must work with many diplomats who havevarying degrees of knowledge about SOF capabilities.”

The lack of familiarity can cause friction between thediplomatic corps and special operators.

“Diplomats worry the military may do more damagethan good, and are perceived by many military as alwayssaying “no” to military proposals. However, when wereally work together we can be very effective — and thathappens more often then people think.”

With the need for embassies to play a major rolefacilitating special operations, Adair is working hard to

smooth out the rough edges and increase understandingof special operations capabilities and functions.

“The State Department provides all new ambassadorswith a course reviewing the range of theirresponsibilities before they go to post,” he said. “At theend of this course, we invite them to Fort Bragg andspend a day giving them a chance to meet people fromall branches of special ops. This educates the diplomatsabout SOF and gives both groups the opportunity to getto know one another. It helps them connect in thefuture.”

“If we are to succeed in combating terror, we musttruly use all elements of national power, not just say it,”he stresses. “Central to that is improving coordinationbetween our diplomatic and military capabilities.SOCOM is trying to do that. I am very fortunate to beable to help — and to be here at SOCOM working withsuch dedicated professionals.”

Marshall Adair, U.S. Special Operations Command politicaladvisor (right) talks with Col. Robert Shamblim, USSOCOM,during the International SOF Week Commander’s Conferencein June. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jim Moser.

POLAD – SOCOM’s envoy to world


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By Tech. Sgt. Jim Moser USSOCOM Public Affairs

More than 80 foreign militaryrepresentatives from over 50 countriesparticipated in a multinationalcounterterrorism workshop in Tampa,Fla., Oct. 18 to 20.

The U.S. Special OperationsCommand and U.S. StrategicCommand held the event to discusscountry and regional counterterrorismefforts and the Global RewardsInformation Program.

“I have spoken before about thisconference being a good example ofwhat I have called the next level in theGlobal War on Terrorism,” said Lt. Gen. Dell Dailey, USSOCOM director of the Center for Special Operations

who gave the opening remarks. “Obviously, because of ourposition in the world, the United States has a major role toplay in combating international terrorism. But, as I thinkyou will all discover … terrorism is a global problem thatrecognizes no borders, that concerns us all, that violates thesovereignty of all of our nations, and that must be combatedindividually and collectively.”

The intent of the workshop was to definecommunication strategies participants use to inform thepublic regarding known terrorists and their supportnetworks ultimately to form an integrated global anti-terrorist program.

“Global partnerships manifest the ability to plan,resource, execute and sustain effective counterterroristnetworks,” said Col. John Davis, Center for SpecialOperations at USSOCOM. “Success in these initiativesdepends on the total integration of all of our partnernations’ capabilities. Partnership with other nations iscritical for successes in the Global War on Terror.”

The two-day workshop began with several speakersdiscussing aspects of terrorism setting the stage forsubsequent presentations and discussions.

Stan Schrager, USSOCOM public diplomacy advisor,spoke about the GRIP program and how GRIP functionedlike a global version of the television show “America’sMost Wanted.” Working closely with the FBI, the showsproducers pass information to the public through the massmedia about the criminals in the hope the public willrespond with information on their whereabouts.

Each day of the workshop, breakout groups discussedhow the potential effectiveness of strategic communicationscan be maximized by adjusting messages and themes to

Counterterrorism workshop builds ties

A Special Forces Soldier watches Afghan National Armysoldiers rush into a compound to secure it while taking partin a mission walkthrough. Photo by Steve Hebert.

A special operator instructs a Philippine soldier on M-16 site adjustment.USSOCOM photo.


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fully account for cultural differences. Dailey said he hopedthe conference would start an open and frank dialoguebetween attendees. “We, the Americans, are here not to talkto you about what we are doing, but to listen to you, toengage with you, to learn from you. This is the beginningof a process, of a continuing dialogue, which we hope toexpand. We will be looking for your ideas on how we cancontinue this.”

“I think the United States needs to invest more in theMuslim world,” said Rohan Gunaratna, the head ofInternational Center for Political Violence and TerrorismResearch in Singapore. “Terrorism is supported by less thanone percent of the Muslim population. But to target theterrorist groups and the terrorist supporters, you need thetotal support of the Muslim population.”

The communication strategies also assistcounterterrorism efforts by influencing those who may beconsidering terrorist acts. The desired effect is to developjoint programs to better inform the people of the respectivecountries and regions about terrorists and their activities togain better public acceptance and support in defeatingterrorism.

“The goal is to de-legitimize terrorism by developing acommunications strategy that maximizes all aspects ofGWOT,” Schrager said. The uncertainty, complexity anddiversity of global terrorism elevate the significance ofintegrated international communications as a main conceptto counterterrorism initiatives.

A Psychological Operations Soldier hands out book bags tolocal children in Baghdad, Iraq. Photo by Spec. David Kobi.

Bad Mojo Photos –The success of our mission and the lives of our

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines depend onaggressively denying the enemy any advantage.

The enemy is out there, actively searching theunclassified networks for information, especiallysensitive photos, in order to obtain targeting data,weapon system vulnerabilities and tactics, techniquesand procedures or TTPs. Everyone must activelyprotect all information — it’s vital to mission success.The enemy is very good at exploiting our operationalsecurity vulnerabilities.

It is important for all to remember the negligent orunauthorized release of sensitive photos is a seriousthreat to our forces.

Everyone must be aware the enemy will exploitsensitive photos showing the results of improvisedexplosive device strikes, battle scenes, casualties,

destroyed or damaged equipment and enemies killedin action as propaganda and terrorist training tools.

Releasing photos outside official, protectedchannels may provide the enemy material for hisinformation operations. Insurgents post useful photoson web site to train, recruit and communicate withfollowers. We at SOCOM can unwittingly magnifyenemy capabilities simply by exchanging photos withfriends, relatives, or by publishing them on theinternet or in other media. We are not limitingauthorized communication, including the appropriateuse of photos under existing public affairs guidance,but we must protect photos revealing our battle losses,ongoing friendly operations, TTPs and equipmentvulnerabilities.

Lastly, all DOD personnel must protectinformation possibly having a negative impact onforeign relations and world opinion.

Anti-terrorism/Force Protection tip of the month


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By Advanced Technology DirectorateUSSOCOM

The Special Operations Forces warrior relies on training,determination and specialized equipment to provide themwith the best warfighting equipment to conduct theirmissions. Providing the technologies to maintain this crucialedge is the responsibility of the men and women of theSpecial Operations Acquisition and Logistics CenterAdvanced Technology Directorate (SOAL-T) workingclosely with SOAL Program Executive Offices, DoDlaboratories, academia and industry.

SOAL-T’s vision is to be the premier, visionaryorganization for timely delivery of effective, focusedadvanced technology solutions to the special operationswarrior. To accomplish this, SOAL-T identifies and assessestechnological opportunities, develops and demonstratesinnovative concepts and technology solutions to enablefuture SOF mission and capabilities through themanagement of a number of technology programs.

The Special Operations Technology Development(SOTD) program has the longest planning horizon, focusingon future needs. SOTD primarily explores innovativetechnology concepts stemming from command technologyroad mapping efforts and strategic guidance. Technologiesare assessed, studied and evaluated in laboratoryenvironments. Some projects do transition more quickly thaninitially planned. For example, the recent fielding of theArmy’s Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar was developedby SOTD in 2001-2003. An instance of a current SOTDspotlight is focusing science and technology resources onconcept development of advanced night-vision devices forthe SOF operator. Another excellent case in point is theNight-Vision Windshield/Distributed Aperture Systemproject developing an omni-directional, multi-spectralday/night viewing capability that significantly increasessituational awareness and is less cumbersome than night-vision goggles.

The Special Operations Special Technology (SOST)program furthers advances technology developed in theSOTD program by developing and demonstratingtechnologies in relevant environments. This programfurnishes SOF operators with field-test deployableprototypes for evaluation before committing to further

development or procurement.“The hand-held MachineBased LanguageTranslation Devicedeveloped incooperation withthe DefenseAdvancedResearchProjectsAgencyprovides SOFoperators witha prototypeone-wayphrase-basedvoice-to-voicemachinetranslationfor use inaustereforward deployed locations and is being field tested. SOFoperators in both Operation Enduring Freedom andOperation Iraqi Freedom are evaluating this technology’scapability to interpret and translate both words and phrases.”

Two-way translation devices are now under development utilizing Technology Transition Initiative (TTI)funds provided by the Office of the Secretary of DefenseAdvanced Concepts office. This technology program istransitioning into an acquisition program of record withSOAL PEO-IIS.

The Special Operations Medical Technology(MEDTECH) program of SOAL-T supports emergingmedical requirements of both SOF operators and medicalpersonnel. MEDTECH developed and fielded the SOF one-handed tourniquet, proven as a greatly enhanced live-savingproduct. Another initiative is providing an assortment ofother advanced combat casualty, life-saving equipment toSOF medics and corpsmen closely coordinated and plannedwith the Program Executive Office for Special Programs.

Federally mandated Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) program offering small businesses an opportunity todesign innovative items for government and commercial use

Technology helping SOF warfightersIt’s a cold dark night … operators have been in position for 12 hours … waiting patiently insilence in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan. A teammate taps his partner’s shoulder twice …signaling sensors have picked up movement along the rocky ridgeline in front of the team. Night-vision goggles are donned and immediately the enemy comes into focus … targets are picked …

Prototypes, like this machine basedlanguage translation device, will allow U.S.Special Operations Command to test andfind equipment with the best capabilities tomeet mission needs.


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is utilized by SOAL-T. The Miniature Multi-BandRadar Beacon, now available to SOF operationalunits started off as a SBIR project. It can be used as apoint designator for accurate air-delivered ordnanceor as a drop zone marker. SBIR in coordination withSOTD, Naval Special Warfare Command andProgram Executive Office for Naval Systems wasused to produce shock mitigating equipment forNaval Surface Warfare combatant craft. Shockmitigating seats dramatically lessen G-forces reducinginjuries and are now being installed on Mark VSpecial Operations Craft.

Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations(ACTDs) are initiated and managed by SOAL-T toexpedite the fielding of rapidly maturing technology.ACTDs are initiatives approved by the Office of the Secretaryof Defense (OSD) to assess the military utility of emergingtechnologies as solutions for critical operational needs. TheUSSOCOM Night Vision, Cave and Urban Assault (NVCUA)ACTD addresses the use of lightweight imaging sensortechnologies to enhance SOF capabilities in urban andcomplex terrain. NVCUA was initiated in direct response tomilitary experiences hunting Al-Qaeda in the mountain cavesand tunnels of Afghanistan. Another promising USSOCOMACTD, the Man-Portable Threat Warning System(SIGINT/MANPACK), aims to develop a small, lightweightuser-configurable threat warning capability for the individualSOF warrior.

Recently, OSD established the TTI program to expeditethe movement of new technology from developer to user.Under this program, OSD provides near-term funding forpromising technologies provided the receiving commandcommits funds for the next budget year. SOAL-T coordinatesUSSOCOM’s input to the Congressionally mandated TTIprogram. USSOCOM has used TTI funds to expedite criticalitems such as SOF demolition kit, wide-field-of-view night-vision goggles, a voice response translator and the SEALDelivery Vehicle advanced reconnaissance system.

SOF warriors in OEF directly benefited fromSOAL-T efforts when they asked for andreceived advanced technologysolutions within days andweeks rather than monthsand years. For example,SOAL-T provided LaserTargeting Devices toassist close airsupport fordeployed SOFoperators inrecord time —from a Combat

Mission Needs (CMN) request to Initial Operating Capability(IOC) in just seven days. Second, Remote Camera Controllersmanage up to 16 sensors in both line-of-sight and satellitecommunications mode — from CMN request to IOC in 11days. Additionally, SOAL-T has used ‘Technology Push’ as akey component of its technology strategy over the past decade.

Recent examples include Pointer, a man-portable UAVcarrying tactical video cameras and transmitting images backto the controlling ground station. A Multi-Band Inter/IntraTeam Radio (MBITR) is a small hand-held radio providingground-to-ground or ground-to-air communications via FM,UHF or VHF frequencies. It is satellite communicationscapable and offers embedded security for both voice and datatraffic. The MBITR was designed for a specific SOFrequirement, but is now a standard radio used by all Services.Hemostatic dressings are field dressings used by tacticalcombat care providers to stop the blood flow from penetratingtrauma wounds.

Since special operators are deployed worldwide, they havethe opportunity to see and test the latest in high-techweaponry, communications, personal equipment and sensorsavailable from around the globe. The information is fed backto SOAL-T managers who serve as ‘Technology Scouts’

identifying emerging technologies with the potential forsatisfying existing SOF deficiencies or enhancing their

operational capabilities.All of these activities and programs

have one common purpose — toensure the SOF Warrior is equippedwith the finest technology andequipment available to fight theGlobal War on Terrorism. SOAL-Twelcomes your suggestionsregarding opportunities where

application of advanced technologiescould provide increased capabilities

to the SOF operator.

Shock mitigating seats developed and deployed

Night-vision equipment advancements

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Sgt. Christopher Fincham8th Army PAO

In a brief ceremony, Soldiers of Special ForcesDetachment-Korea looked on as Brig. Gen. RichardMills, the Special Operations Command-Koreacommander, officially re-designated the unit as the 39thSpecial Forces Detachment Oct. 14.

While the change may appear to be minimal, the“official” re-designation marks the culmination of morethan 20-year effort to return this historic detachment tothe ranks of “combat-deployable” units.

“While its nomenclature has changed at varioustimes,” said Col. Richard Thomas, commander of the 1stSpecial Forces Group (Airborne). “What has neverchanged is this detachment’s commitment to thoroughlyprofessional and combat-ready combined special forcesenabling the Combined Unconventional Warfare Task

Force to stand as “Primus Interpares” – ‘First AmongEquals’ – within the Combined Forces Command.”

Since it’s inception in 1958, the unit’s name andmake-up have changed repeatedly. In 1974 it wasinactivated as a combat-deployable unit and activated asa training unit. Then in 1984, the long process of re-establishing the detachment as a “combat-deployable”unit began.

“… The detachment that has served the brotherhoodof our combined special forces so well over the last 50years will continue to do so in the many years ahead,”Thomas said.

The 16 Soldiers making up the unit work hand inhand with nine South Korean units including a SpecialMission Group, the 707th Special Mission Battalion(Counter Terrorist), six brigades, and a Special Warfare

The commander of Special Forces Detachment-Korea Maj. Robert Burmaster, looks on as Brig. Gen. Richard Mills, thecommander of the Special Operations Command-Korea attaches the guidon for the newly re-designated unit. Photo bySgt. Christopher Fincham.

Special Forces Detachment Koreatransforms to 39th SF Detachment

See 39th, Page 19

S P E C I A L O P E R A T I O N S C O M M A N D — K O R E A

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SOCKOR

During the autumn months, Korea receives a lot of rain,drizzle, sprinkles, showers and mist, much to the dismay ofsome Soldiers stationed there.

“Good infiltration weather,” a few Soldiers said as theydeparted a bus at a ferry station near Kyodongdo,Kanghwa-gun. For Special Forces Soldiers, rainy weathermeans the enemy is likely to be less alert.

For the members of the original Korean Tiger Brigadeand U.S. Special Operations Command-Korea Soldiers inattendance, it was fitting weather for an outdoor memorialceremony as well.

“The Tiger Brigade conducted unconventional warfareand special operations type activities — some withour assistance, but mostly on their own,” said Brig.Gen. Richard Mills, SOCKOR commander. “Theyconducted unconventional, clandestine and covertoperations behind enemy lines to further the wareffort to disengage as many of the frontline troopsas they could from the front line battle area.”

The Tigers were formed during the Korean War, when North Korean citizens who opposedKim, Il-sung wanted freedom banded together tofight as partisans. They received some Americanassistance and training and managed to hold on toKyodong Island throughout the war using it as abase for raids against communist troops.

“Korean history does not carry their history asgrandly as they fought in the war, but when you

talk with these individuals about what they did, youunderstand and respect the magnitude of the sacrifice these individuals gave,” Mills said. “The old men that yousee here in uniform today wear it as proudly as the daythey fought in the war, and have earned all of the respectthat comes with it.”

During the ceremony, solemn men stood and honoredtheir fallen comrade’s words and memories. A memorialground for the unit is located on the north side of the island,and when the clouds parted, North Korea was visible in thedistance.

“My hometown is 3,500 meters over there,” Pak, Sang-joon said as he pointed to North Korea. Pak, the secondcommander of the Tiger Brigade, led the brigade from Sep.1951 to Dec. 1953. He is now the chairman/president of theFederation of Partisan Forces Korea, 8240th Army UnitVeterans Association. “I was a teacher of high school at thetime. I was 25 years old when I organized the partisanorganization. I taught my students, what is freedom. Iraided over there 68 times!”

Training Group. Primarily a training and “combat advisory” unit, they

work with each of the nine units to ensure a high level ofproficiency in various Special Forces operations.

According to Master Sgt. Alfred Garcia, a member of39th Detachment during war their roles change to“coalition support team leaders” where they would assistin executing the units’ combat missions.

These missions - instructor and team leader - areboth demanding and essential to the successful executionof the wartime mission, Mills said. “(This unit) iscomprised of some of the most technically and tactically

proficient and professional special operationsnoncommissioned officers in the U.S. Department ofDefense, (The Soldiers) of detachment 39 do thingseveryday no other Special Operation Forces operators arecapable of.”

Although the new designation won’t necessarilychange the detachment’s mission, it will see changes inequipment and personnel authorizations,

For all intents and purposes though, its still businessas usual for Special Forces Detachment 39.

“Regardless of the unit’s name or designation, onething that remains the same is Special Forces Det. 39will be manned with some of the best Special ForcesSoldiers,” Mills said.

Korean TigerBrigade honored

Members of the Tiger Brigade look on during a memorial service fortheir fallen comrades from the Korean War. SOCKOR Photo.

39th continued, Page 18


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By Sgt. Joe HealyU.S. Army Special Operations Command

Hundreds of Green Berets, former Special Forcescommanders and command sergeant majors, friends ofSpecial Operations Forces and family members gathered atMeadows Memorial Field Sept. 30, honoring two veteranSpecial Forces officers during a U.S. Army Special ForcesCommand change of command ceremony.

With sunshine breaking through heavy clouds overhead,Brig. Gen. John F. Mulholland Jr., a veteran commander of5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) who recently served atthe Office of Military Cooperation in Kuwait, acceptedcommand of USASFC from Brig. Gen. Gary M. Jones.

Jones had commanded USASFC since Sept. 15, 2003.During Jones’ tenure, the legendary Green Berets had neverbeen busier. According to Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger, Jr.,commander U.S. Army Special Operations Command, 80percent of all present-day Green Berets are either nowdeployed, preparing to deploy or are currently engaged incombat operations. During 2005, Green Berets havedetained more than 300 terrorists in Afghanistan, and SpecialForces trained and equipped the Iraqi special operationsbrigade for Iraq’s national referendum.

In a time-honored military tradition, the unit’s colorswere passed; Jones handed them to Kensinger, thenKensinger handed them to Mulholland. The Passing of the

Colors from the outgoing commander to the incomingcommander symbolizes the command’s transfer of power.

“As I stand here this morning, looking at thesemagnificent colors, I feel a sense of pride in youraccomplishments and pride in the regiment that is not easilydescribed,” Jones said. “As I am prepared to relinquishcommand from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command(Airborne) I wanted all of you to know that this has been thehighlight of my life.”

“I select to command no other unit,” Jones said. Lookingacross the parade field directly into the eyes of those whomhe commanded for two years, Jones continued. “Never in ourhistory has one organization done more for your country tosecure the populace from the horrors that exist in this worldthan you have done.”

Kensinger reminded the audience inside the base ofSpecial Forces Memorial Statue lays a time capsule. Insidethe capsule is a copy of a speech President John F. Kennedygave when he declared the Green Beret as a symbol ofcourage.

“Mike has been a great friend and confidante and will bemissed,” Kensinger said of Jones. In Jones’ final remarks hethanked his wife and children and said, “No man can make itwithout his family.”

“It is an honor and privilege to command the finest menin the world,” Mulholland said upon taking command. “I amhumbled and you deserve nothing but the best. Nobody doesit better than you.”

Brig. Gen. Gary M. Jones (far right) relinquishes command of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) to Brig.Gen. John F. Mulholland (far left) who is receiving the guidon from Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger, Jr., commander, U.S. ArmySpecial Operations Command, during the change of command ceremony held at Meadows Memorial Field, Fort Bragg, N.C.,Sept. 30. Photo by Gillian M. Albro.

Special Forces welcomes new commander

G L O B A L W A R O N T E R R O R I S MU . S . A R M Y S P E C I A L O P E R A T I O N S C O M M A N D


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By Spc. James P. Hunter49th Public Affairs Detachment (Airborne)

The Airborne and Special Operations Museum unveileda bust of a famed retired World War II veteran Lt. Gen.William P. Yarborough Sept. 30.

Rudi Gresham, Special Forces retiree, believes a formerpresident's specific motto is the best way to describe the 93year-old Yarborough.

Former President Ronald Reagan once said, “... there isno limit to what a man can do or where he can go if hedoesn't mind who gets the credit.”

Yarborough never minded who got the credit while heled Paratroopers in four successful combat jumps duringWorld War II and helped modernize the U.S. Army SpecialForces.

Special Forces Soldiers of the past and the presentgathered to witness the unveiling of the bust.

It replicates Yarborough from his uniformname tapes to the top of his Green Beret,featuring the peculiar knife known as the“Yarborough knife” to his front, the FifthU.S. Army patch on his shoulder and hismaster parachutist wings sitting proudlyupon his chest.

Originally, Voight Gilmore, SpecialForces retiree from Southern Pines, came upwith the idea of developing a pair of statues ofPresident John F. Kennedy and Yarborough fromwhen the president made his visit in 1961.

The presidential visit led to theauthorization of the Green Beret,said Edward Matney, retiree,U.S. Army John F. KennedySpecial Warfare Center andSchool.

“(Yarborough) convincedPresident Kennedy that the GreenBerets were the answer to theproblems in Vietnam,” Matneysaid, “and he wanted to makethem distinctive from the rest ofthe Army.”

The idea for the bust cameabout when the original idea forthe sculptures were turned downbecause of funding, Matney said.

“After the project was turned

away because of funding,” said Zenos Frudakis, “theywanted to abandon the project.”

Frudakis read extensively about the retired general andhis outstanding career in special operations and decided hewanted to continue with the sculpting and create the bust.

“It’s not all or nothing. It’s better to have something inthe museum than nothing,” he said. “He needs to be here.How can this museum be complete without him?”

Using photographs of Yarborough from the presidentialvisit in 1961, Frudakis was able to capture the sharp,aggressive and intelligent features.

“I wanted to make this a poetic biography,” he said. “Iwanted to give him eyes of a piercing falcon, meaning hehas a goal that he is going to achieve.”

Yarborough achieved a lot during his 36-year career,Matney said.

He was influential in forming airborne forces in the U.S.Army during the early 1940’s, said retired Maj. Gen. SidneyShachnow, former commanding general of the U.S. ArmyJohn F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

Yarborough led Paratroopers in four combat jumpsduring World War II into Sicily, Salerno and twice

into North Africa. The father of the Green Berets designed the

jump wings all Paratroopers wear today,Shachnow said. The “Yarborough Knife” all

Special Forces troops receive after earning theirGreen Beret is named after him.

“He was more than just a visionary,” Shachnowsaid. “He was a hands on combat leader who led

Paratroopers.”Speaking to a filled auditorium in the

museums theater, Shachnow, recited aparagraph from a letter written by

President Kennedy to the U.S.Army that approved thewearing of the Green Beret.

“Green Beret: a symbolof excellence, a badge of

courage, a mark ofdistinction and the fight for

freedom,” Shachnowread.

Past, present andfuture Soldiers whowear the Green Beretcan be grateful and

thankful to Yarboroughbecause of his effortsand dedication, he said.

Special Forces pioneer honored

Photo by Spc. James P. Hunter.

with artwork at SOF museum

That others may live

Hurricane Katrina barrels its way towards theLouisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast. NOAA photo.

As Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc along the Gulf Coast,special operators from around the country took the lead so...

By Tech. Sgt. Jim MoserUSSOCOM Public Affairs

On Aug. 29 an unwelcome guest – HurricaneKatrina — crashed into the Central Gulf Coast. Thestorm devastated the area, laying waste to smalltowns along the beaches and brought the “BigEasy” to its knees. Shortly after what is beingtouted as the deadliest storm in America’s historyraged inland, Quiet Professionals from across thecountry put down their weapons and set out on amission of mercy. On the night of Aug. 31, an MC-130 from Hurlburt Field, Fla., landed at the NewOrleans airport with a team of Combat Controllersand a small medical team to establish operations atthe airport, which had no electricity or air trafficcontrol capability. They set self-powered lights andother navigational aids, and then moved into thefunction of air traffic controller with portable radios

ensuring military aircraft could land and evacuateinjured or ill people from the New Orleans area.Meanwhile, a hundred or so miles northeast of NewOrleans, in Jackson Miss., the Air Force SpecialOperations Command started its search and rescuemissions in earnest. Pararescuemen partners, withSpecial Operations Forces in the Global War onTerrorism, began their mission of mercy.

Day and night choppers filled the sky liftingpeople from houses flooded to the roof line. Whilemany people were glad to see the crews, otherswere not so anxious to leave.

Many victims were not aware of the seriouscondition in their own city and did not want to

See KATRINA, Page 24


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S P E C I A L O P E R A T I O N S F O R C E S

leave, saying they can just “ride out the storm,” saidSenior Airman Jack Earnshaw, Task Force KatrinaPararescueman.

“What they don't know are the dangers of stayingbehind,” Earnshaw said. “After we explained the dangersof the pollutants in the water and the overall condition ofthe city, several families finally got on the helo. Theydon't know how bad it is out there because they've beenwithout television or radio for several days.”

Pararescuemen encountered scenarios much differentthan those in Southwest Asia, he said. Crews weredodging power lines, trees and confined spaces to get tovictims and extract them safely.

Picking up civilians requires the Pararescuemen totake more time, be more reassuring than normal whenrecovering downed pilots. Military pilots and aircrewsare trained to ride a hoist. Pararescuemen give them thehorse collar and they can put it on. They know abouthelicopter rotor wash, said Master Sgt. Greg Bisogno, anAir Force Reserve Command Pararescueman, who is acombat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“With these folks, we talk to them and hook them

up,” he said. “They’re scared and can’t hear so we puttheir hands where we want them to hang on.”

To get to the people in their flooded houses is noteasy. Bisogno has chopped his way through severalroofs.

The Pararescuemen or PJs have tools as primitive asaxes and as sophisticated as battery-powered saws-allsand circular saws. Because the bottom floors were full ofwater, and most homes didn’t have outside stairwells, thePJs went through the roofs to get inside and get thepeople out.

“There's nothing more rewarding than giving back toour own country,” Earnshaw said. “You really feel likeyou're giving back and serving Americans.”

During the peak of the rescue operation, 26 aircraftand more than 450 people shared the ramp in Jackson,Miss., with the Mississippi Air National Guard.

While the air operation grabbed most of the mediaattention, other groups of Quiet Professionals were in thearea plying the flooded backwoods waterways andflooded city streets searching for survivors.

Naval Special Warfare Group Four led an entire taskgroup to support Hurricane Katrina rescue efforts. NSWpersonnel from Special Boat Team 22 and Naval Small

U.S. Naval Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen navigate the Pearl River in Louisiana in a Special Operations Craft-Riverine searching for survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Scott Boyle.

KATRINA continued, Page 23


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Craft Instruction and Technical Training School formedTask Unit-Mississippi, and SEAL Delivery Vehicle Twopersonnel employed 25 Combat Rubber Raiding Craft aspart of Task Unit-Louisiana. SBT-22 based out ofStennis, Miss., joined the relief effort even though theirown base was pummeled by Katrina.

SBT-22’s SOC-R and othershallow draft boats searched LakePontchartrain and West Pearl Riveroffering assistance to anyone inneed.

Back in New Orleans, NavalSpecial Warfare Task Group Katrinateam members and Soldiersassigned to the 82nd AirborneDivision used Zodiacs to navigatethe flooded streets of the city.

Special operators, from the 20thSpecial Forces Group, were on the

ground assisting in therescue of survivors.

Whether in the air,on the water or boots onthe ground, specialoperators answered thecall. They put combatskills honed in areas ofresponsibility all overthe world to use directlyhelping the people theyhave sworn to protect —not from the shadows orfrom behind the scenesthis time — but in plainview of a gratefulNation.

Secretary of DefenseDonald Rumsfeld mayhave said it best — “Ourmilitary responded as atotal force to thisemergency. They savedlives and helped thepeople of Louisiana,

Mississippi, and Alabama recover from this disaster.”(Editors note: Lt. Col. Bob Thompson, Air Force

Reserve Command Public Affairs and Airman 1st ClassTim Bazar, 347th Expeditionary Rescue Group PublicAffairs contributed to this story.)

Tech. Sgt. Lem Torres, Task Force Katrina Pararescueman, surveys houses Sept. 2 looking forvictims of Hurricane Katrina. Pararescueman and Special Operations Forces are partners in theGlobal War on Terrorism. Photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez.

Naval Special Warfare Task GroupKatrina team members and Soldiersassigned to the 82nd Airborne Divisioncarry a Zodiac to the launch point in aflooded New Orleans, La.,neighborhood on Sept. 11. The boatcrews are searching for HurricaneKatrina survivors throughout thedevastated city. Photo by Chief PettyOfficer Scott Boyle.

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By Chief Petty Officer Scott BoyleNSW Task Group Katrina Public Affairs

When flooded roads prevent the use of cars or trucks,shallow-draft river boats become the best option for gettingaround. The men of Naval Special Warfare who use them forriver training in Stennis, Miss., know that the SpecialOperations Craft-Riverine (SOC-R) does many things well.The craft, specifically designed for shallow waterways, isprimarily used for the insertion and extraction of NavySEALs in hostile territory. But in the days followingHurricane Katrina, the SOC-R has taken on a differentmission, a lifesaving one.

“The first day after the storm, the guys were itching togo, and that says a lot because many of them lost theirhomes as well,” said Chief Petty Officer Stephen Babb, aSpecial Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman and the officer-

in-charge for a detachment from Special Boat Team 22. The SWCCs and support staff of SBT-22 live and work

in what was the direct path of Katrina’s eye. “The first day we got underway was on Lake

Pontchartrain near Eden Isles. We found people trying to fixtheir homes, and gave them food and water. They couldn’tthank us enough,” Babb said. “It’s our community as well. Itwas the first time some of my guys saw their own homes.”

Sept. 7, four of the team’s boat crews spent the afternoon searching for storm survivors along a 20-milestretch of the West Pearl River.

Hundreds of homes, mostly fishing shanties floating onmakeshift pontoons, lined the river banks. Many of thesehomes had limited road access under normal conditions, andwere completely cut off from land after Katrina sweptthrough the area. The fates of their owners are unknown.

Working in groups of two, the SWCCs piloted their

NSW boat crews search for Katrina survivors

N A V A L S P E C I A L W A R F A R E C O M M A N D

Members of Special Boat Team 22 peer through the windows of a damaged houseboat looking for victims on the floodedLouisiana rivers after Hurricane Katrina. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Scott Boyle.


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boats from side to side, shanty toshanty, looking for any signs of life.

“Log, twelve o’clock!” holleredPetty Officer 1st Class JeremeBlackburn from the bow of his boat.A tree, probably 40-feet long andtwo-feet thick, was floating in thecurrent directly in the boat’s path.Blackburn lay on his stomach, headhung over the edge, and directedPetty Officer 2nd Class MatthewTabarez, the SOC-R’s driver, aroundthe massive hazard. The boat slowlycrept forward, dodging debrisbobbing in the water. It inched to abroken dock, now separated from thehome it was once attached to. Theshanty, with part of its roof blownaway, had floated to its currentresting point on the riverbank.

Tabarez inched forward until theSOC-R’s bow barely touched thedock. Blackburn and Petty Officer3rd Class Andrew Cahill hopped off,and, making their way through treebranches and gaps in the dock’swooden boards, approached thedamaged building.

“U.S. Navy!” Cahill called out.“Is anyone here?”

They approached the front door,which was slightly open. Blackburnand Cahill cautiously entered thehome, looking for any signs of life,calling out to anyone who might bein need of supplies or medicalassistance. After a few minutes theyemerged, shaking their heads fromside to side. No one was home — agood thing under thesecircumstances.

The three other SOC-Rs weredoing the same thing on both sides ofthe river, inching into tributaries thatwere inaccessible by boat two weeksago, yet were now up to 10-feetdeep.

The mission continued for many hours. At the end of theday, about 25 homes were searched by the boat teams.Though none of their neighbors were found so far, theycontinue the search for anyone who might still be strandedand needing assistance. For the Sailors of SBT-22, this ismore than a mission. This is their community.

Special Boat Team 22 crewmen cruise the Pearl River, inLouisiana searching shallow waterways for survivors ofHurricane Katrina. U.S. Naval Special Operations iscontributing to the Hurricane Katrina humanitarianassistance operations being led by the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency in conjunction with the Department ofDefense. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Scott Boyle.


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N A V A L S P E C I A L W A R F A R E C O M M A N D

By Chief Petty Officer Robert BensonNSWG-4 Public Affairs

A boat officer from Naval SpecialWarfare received one of the Nation’shighest combat awards, the highestaward ever earned by a member ofNSW’s newest warfare community,Special Warfare Combatant-craftCrewmen.

Chief Warrant Officer David Wylie,a Special Boat Team 12 officer,received the Bronze Star Medal during a ceremony Aug. 25.

“Do you understand the significance of your daddy’s medal?”asked Cmdr. Michael Lumpkin, SBT-12commanding officer, to Wylie’s sonLewis following the ceremony in thecommand’s boat.

Louis answered yes, but at theyoung age of 11, he may not haveunderstood the full impact or importance of the award.“This medal represents the role SWCCs played in theinitial part of the war,” Wylie said. “It reflects not just onme, but my whole detachment.”

Wylie said he was really proud of the award, addinghis grandfather also had a Bronze Star medal. “I rememberseeing my grandfather’s medal as a kid, so this reallymeans a lot to me. My family is also proud; I think mywife was more excited about it than I was.”

Wylie’s actions, described in the award’s citation as“heroic,” prevented a “catastrophic environmental disaster”in Iraq in March and April 2003.

“The successful mission consisted of 35 SEALs, 24Polish GROM, and 10 Naval Special Warfare CombatantCraftsman,” read the citation. Wylie’s “dedication toplanning and execution of the strategically importantmission achieved National Command Authority objectivesand prevented the Iraqi regime from flooding the regionwith millions of gallons of crude oil. The successfulseizure of the oil terminal in Southern Iraqi waters alsopermitted the safe transit of coalition ship movement. Inaddition, Chief Wylie led personnel during the boardingand clearance of 115 vessels within the mined waterwaysof the Khaur Abd Allah with a force of 10 Special BoatTeam craft and both SEAL and Polish GROM boardingteams.”

The award wasn’t the only first for Wylie and theSWCC community — two years ago, when he was ChiefBoatswain’s Mate David Wylie, he was commissioned asthe first Chief Warrant Officer in the community.

Wylie “re-received” the award the following weekfrom Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during thesecretary’s visit to NSW.

SWCCs train extensively in craft and weapons tactics,focusing on clandestine infiltration and ex-filtration ofSEALs and other Special Operations Forces.

‘Boat guy’ earns Bronze Star Medal

Chief Warrant Officer David Wylie, a Special Boat Team 12 officer, receives aBronze Star Medal from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Aug. 25.Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class H. Dwain Willis.

Chief Warrant Officer David Wylie shows his bronze star.Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class H. Dwain Willis.

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A I R F O R C E S P E C I A L O P E R A T I O N S C O M M A N D

By Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes16th Special Operations Wing

After more than two years, Hurlburt Field finallywelcomed home the 9th Special Operations Squadron, atenant unit at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

The 9th SOS family reunited after 26 months ofcontinuous deployment rotations.

The rotations began in May 2003, and the last rotationreturned from Operation Iraqi Freedom Sept. 4.

“We had a great time. We focused on the mission andgot the mission done,” said Lt. Col. Steven Lambert, 9thSOS commander.

While deployed, the 9th SOS performed its regularduties as well helping in other areas of the mission.

“We’re not just tankers, we do that and a whole lotmore,” said Tech. Sgt. Rich Hosaka, 9th SOS loadmaster.

The unit assisted in psychological warfare operations bydropping more than 500,000 leaflets in Iraq before theelections. Two planes from the 9th SOS flew more than1,600 combat hours and delivered nearly 3 million pounds ofcargo in 2004 and another 1,200 combat hours and almost 4million pounds in just eight months this year.

Along with delivering cargo, the 9th SOS transportedalmost 2,000 troops in 2004 and close to 3,100 troops in2005 in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and IraqiFreedom.

During that period the 9th SOS has had almost a third ofthe squadron deployed at any one time. For its efforts whiledeployed, the 9th SOS earned the Air Force Association’sCitation of Honor.

An Airman of the 9th SOS attributes the squadron’smission success to one thing: “It’s a good command, goodmission, good plane, but we have great people,” said SeniorAirman Pat Reagan, 9th SOS loadmaster.

“We’re a lot smaller than a lot of the other operationsunits at Hurlburt Field, but we are deployed just as much,”said Capt. Nicole Phelan, 9th SOS navigator.

During critical personnel shortages, the squadronreceived manning augmentation from other MC-130P units,specifically the 5th SOS, Reserve Associate at Eglin and the67th SOS from Royal Air Force Mildenhall.

“If you ask the average Hurlburt Field Airmen what unitsare part of the wing, they forget about thegeographically separated units. Our recordover that last few years should get rid ofthe ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mindset,”Lambert said. The squadron is going touse this reconstitution time to get peoplecaught up on training, continue off-dutyand professional military education andallow people to take some of the leavethey have accrued during the past 26months, Lambert said.

Being able to come home and focus ...its nice, Hosaka said.

The 9th SOS’s specialty is night-vision goggle low-level air refueling ofspecial operations helicopters.Additionally, it can perform airdrop,airland and rescue missions.

A 9th Special Operations Squadron MC-130P Combat Shadow taxis beforetaking off to conduct a psychological operations mission by dropping leafletsin support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 9th SOS photo.

Airmen from the 9th Special Operations Squadron dropleaflets over Iraq to encourage Iraqi citizens to vote in theMarch 2005 elections. 9th SOS photo.

Night Wingsreturn to roost


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By Capt. Tom MontgomeryAFSOC

A select team of combat aviation advisors from the6th Special Operations Squadron deployed to the edge ofthe Sahara desert to conduct a joint exchange trainingexercise with the fledgling Niger air force in August.

Because the 6th SOS has been to Niger numeroustimes, the air commandos better understand how to adaptto living and working in one of the world’s poorestcountries. The team requires very little outside supportand leaves a very small footprint in the local area. The aircommandos are culturally and linguistically trained toearn the respect of partner-nation citizens and militaryforces.

“The goal of the training during this deployment wasfor both air forces to enhance their already solid workingrelationship and promote an open exchange of ideas,”Jerry Klingaman, director of strategy and plans for the6th SOS, said.

Niger is in the middle of the Trans-Saharan region ofAfrica and is an important ally in the fight against

international terrorism, said Dennise Mathieu, U.S.ambassador to Niger.

Terrorist organizations have been able to exploit theremote, harsh terrain and loose border controls of theTrans-Sahara to their advantage. Terrorist groups andtheir supporters have funneled cash, recruits and weaponsacross the vast stretches of the Sahara — a desert as large as the continental United States, Klingaman said.

“We’re maintaining skills that are crucial to one ofour main missions in the 6th: Combat aviation advisoryoperations,” said an Air Force major who was the deputymission commander. “We’re not only maintaining our(advisory) skills, we’re also tending a great relationshipwe enjoy with the Niger air force.”

The Air Commandos of the 6th SOS are experts inaviation advisory operations to all corners of the globe,fluent in dozens of languages, and instructors onnumerous foreign aircraft.

Niger’s air force, less than two years old, has about300 airmen and 10 flyable aircraft, including a C-130Hercules and a Russian built Mi-17 multi-role helicopter.The Air Commandos from Hurlburt Field can fly and

Air Commandos buildbonds with African country

A 6th Special Operations Squadron maintenance instructor examines components of a turboprop engine on the Nigerien airforce C-130 while a Nigerien maintainer learns some new techniques. Photo by Capt. Tom Montgomery.

maintain both. “Our air force is very small, but we are

improving, and we are learning,” said Nigerien Col.Hassan Mossi, Niger air force vice chief of staff. “Itis extremely important for us to continue workingwith the U.S. Air Force. We love working withthese guys (6th SOS) because they understand ourneeds as airmen, they understand our nationalculture, and they make an effort to speak ourlanguage.” French is Niger’s official language.

The Air Commando team and the Nigeriensflew the C-130 and Mi-17 extensively during theexercise, practicing tactical skills, such as low-levelnavigation and remote-landing-zone infiltration.

“They’ve come a long way with how they usetheir Mi-17 — doing more missions and exploringthe capabilities of the aircraft,” said a 6th SOSmajor. The major learned to pilot the Mi-17 in aformer communist bloc country now on friendlyterms with the United States.

“He (the major) taught me much better tacticalapproaches, spending much less time in avulnerable position as we descended,” said Nigerien Capt. Ibrahim Almoustapha, Mi-17 pilot.

“We learned a lot about crew coordination,which is very difficult,” said Nigerien Capt. AmirouAbdulkader, another Mi-17 pilot.

The exercise wasn’t all about flying, however.“In addition to pilots and navigators, we’ve brought

along other aircrew members, maintainers, medicalpersonnel, security forces, flight engineers and enginemechanics, among others,” said an Air Force technicalsergeant who was the team sergeant, or lead non-commissioned officer, for this operation.

“I wish I could have that unit (6th SOS) in everycountry every day of the week,” Air Force Gen. RobertFoglesong, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe,said.

Foglesong is responsible for air operations in Europeand most of Africa. He visited Niger and flew with theAir Commandos and the Nigeriens aboard the C-130.

Mathieu shared the general’s sentiment. “The 6thprovide exactly what the Nigeriens want,” she said. “TheNigeriens have always said they have the motivation, butsometimes they need a little help.”

“(This unit has) an ability to lash-up with thesepartner nations in such a way as to be very user-friendly,” Foglesong said. “We must remember that wecan’t fight transnational terrorism individually. Collectivesecurity is vital to the next decade of democracy.”

The U.S. government is engaging in a multi-facetedeffort, called the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Initiativeto deny terrorists any safe haven they may have enjoyed

in the region. The initiative’s goal is to improve thecapabilities of Trans-Saharan governments so they caneffectively prevent or remove terrorist threats themselves.The military component is called Operation EnduringFreedom Trans Sahara.

“It is a very positive thing to have good military-to-military cooperation between Niger and the U.S. as wehelp build a stronger partner in the global war onterrorism,” Mathieu said.

“The Nigeriens don’t have all of the tools and partsthey need, but they are very creative and find ways to fixthings,” said an Air Force technical sergeant, who is amaintenance adviser on the team. “We have to be flexibleand understand that they do things very differently thanhow we are taught in our air force.”

The exercise kept airmen from both air forces busy inthe air and in the briefing rooms.

At the end of the exercise, the two air forces hadpracticed numerous aviation tactics, aircraft andperimeter security, airbase defense, detailed maintenanceprocedures, search-and-rescue operations, and a full-scalemass-casualty scenario involving the national hospital,emergency-response teams, and the C-130 and Mi-17.

“Things went very well,” the deputy missioncommander said. “In past trips their C-130 (Hercules)had some maintenance problems, but our cooperativeefforts over the past year have solved those problems,and this time around we really flew that ‘Herk.’”

FACT: The mission of the 6th Special

Operations Squadron is toadvise and train

foreign aviationforces to employ andsustain their ownassets and, whennecessary, tointegrate thoseassets into joint,multi-national

operations. Thewartime mission ofthe 6th SOS is toassess, train, advise

and assist foreignaviation forces in airpower

employment, sustainment, and force integration inthree interrelated mission areas: foreign internaldefense, unconventional warfare and coalitionsupport.


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Tech. Sgt. Jim MoserUSSOCOM Public Affairs

Now there are four.Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld formally

announced the creation of the Marine Corps SpecialOperations Command during a press briefing at thePentagon Nov. 1 making it the fourth component in U.S.Special Operations Command.

“In this complex and unconventional conflict, weare constantly looking for ways to strengthen our armedforces,” he said.

The new command will consist of 2,600 Marinesstationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and Camp Pendleton,Calif.

MARSOC’s primary mission will be to organize,man, train and equip Marine Special Operations Forces.The MARSOC subordinate elements will providetraining to foreign militaries, conduct specified specialoperations missions like special reconnaissance, engagein direct action, provide intelligence support, coordinatesupporting fires and provide logistical support to specialoperations task forces.

“MARSOC will be a true component of USSOCOM— just like Army Special Operations Command, AirForce Special Operations Command and Naval SpecialWarfare Command,” said Gen. Doug Brown, commanderof USSOCOM. “MARSOC provides SOCOM additionalcapability in critical areas for GWOT such as foreign

internal defense, combat enablers and provides SOF aforward flexible force on call as they are trained andplaced in the Marine Expeditionary Units.”

Brig. Gen. Dennis Hejlik, now the deputycommander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force atCamp Pendleton Calif., has been selected to commandMARSOC. Hejlik formerly served as the chief of staffand the director, of the Center for Operations, Plans andPolicy at USSOCOM.

Though USSOCOM and the Marine Corps have notestablished an activation date for the MARSOC, someelements, like the Foreign Military Training Unit, will beable to assume responsibility for missions almostimmediately. Others will be ready after a period ofspecialized training. A small number of Marines arealready assigned to the U.S. Special Operations

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Marine Corps Special Operations Com

A Marine from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (SpecialOperations Capable) patrols along a road near KhasUruzgan, Afghanistan. Members of the MEU recently movedfarther north into Uruzgan Province to disrupt Taliban andanti-coalition activity preceding Afghanistan's electionregistration efforts. Photo by Capt. Eric Dent.

Command headquarters in Tampa, Fla. Marine Brig.Gen. George Flynn is the current chief of staff atUSSOCOM.

MARSOC forces will provide some relief to theSpecial Operations Forces who are experiencing a highoperations tempo in the Global War on Terrorism. Thecommand will also enable USSOCOM to accomplishsome of the missions currently not being performedbecause of competing priorities.

The new command "will increase the number ofSpecial Operations Forces available for missionsworldwide while expanding their capabilities in somekey areas," Rumsfeld said.

Even with the addition of the Marine contingent,more SpecialOperations Forces

will be needed.“The 2,600 Marines will not answer the total

growth requirement of Special OperationsCommand over the next several years,” said ViceAdm Eric T. Olson, USSOCOM deputycommander. “But they’re an immediate boost thatwill be employable in the near- and mid-term inimportant ways.”

MARSOC will have a headquarters and threesubordinate elements, the Marine SpecialOperations Regiment, the Foreign MilitaryTraining Unit and the Marine Special OperationsSupport Group. The headquarters, the FMTU andthe MSOSG will be stationed at Camp Lejeune.The Marine Special Operations Regiment, whichwill have two Marine Special OperationsBattalions, with one Marine Special OperationsBattalion stationed at Camp Lejuene and theother at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Start-up and sustainment costs for the newcomponent are still being analyzed.

“The decision that was made last week was abold decision, but it’s a good and importantdecision made at the right time inhistory,” Olson said. “Wehave really progressedtoward this in adeliberate way witha lot ofdiscussion.”


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mand becomes USSOCOM componentForce Reconnaissance Marines from CommandElement, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SpecialOperations Capable) conduct live-fire training on theflight deck aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)while underway in the Pacific Ocean. Photo by Cpl.Thomas J. Grove.

A Lance Corporal from the 3rd Platoon, FoxCompany, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Bn., 8thMarines, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SpecialOperations Capable), fires an AT4 recoilless rifleduring fire and maneuver training near CampBucca, Iraq. Photo by Cpl. Eric R. Martin.

E D U C A T I O N


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By Capt. Joseph CoslettUSSOCOM Public Affairs

A Special Operations Forces Soldier will walk across thestage this December in a cap and gown, receiving a collegedegree as part of a life-long learning partnership betweenU.S. Special Operations Command and the University ofSouth Florida.

Sgt. Maj. Andrew Farkas, USSOCOM, will graduatefrom USF with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science and a business minor. USSOCOM and USF partnered a year agoto create an educational degree completion program,allowing active-duty enlisted and warrant officer specialoperators who are within a year of obtaining their bachelor’sdegree, to attend USF full-time in residence.

“It was a chance of a lifetime to finish my degree,”Farkas said. “I really believe in the program — SOFoperators in high ops tempo, multiple deploymentassignments can come to Tampa, finish their degrees andthen work for USSOCOM — it’s an opportunity worth

looking into.”USSOCOM has changed the program name from the

“SOF College Undergraduate Degree Assistance Program” tothe “SOF Degree-in-Three Program.” Future SOF candidatescan apply if they possess approximately 90 hours oftransferable college credits, which in most cases places themwithin three semesters of gaining a diploma, hence the name“Degree in Three.”

One program area getting more emphasis is the up-frontassessment on a candidate’s academic qualifications.

“Competitive candidates that fall short of the program’sspecific requirements will receive information on whatcourses they might take on their own to make them eligiblefor the program,” said Boyd Ballard, USSOCOM JointEducation Branch.

Once selected, candidates are assigned to USSOCOMheadquarters and are allowed up to one year to attend USFfull-time to complete their degree, then spend the remainderof their assignment in a position at the command. All school-associated costs are the responsibility of the individual,

however tuition assistance and theMontgomery G.I. Bill can offset someof the expenses.

USF offers academic programsacross a wide spectrum — more than200 majors and programs in 10colleges, covering engineering,education, criminal justice,anthropology, biochemistry andgeology, to name a few. SOF personnelwho have gathered an eclectic selectionof completed coursework from variouscommunity colleges, universities, ormilitary courses accredited by theAmerican Council on Education, ACE,should be able to apply much of thatwork to a field of study to their likingat USF.

University of South Florida has adedicated program counselor whoserves as a mentor from the initialevaluation of the candidate’squalifications through their choice ofmajor and course-load requirements tocomplete a B.A. or B.S. degree.

“Attending college in residencefull-time is an attractive alternative

Stationed for education:

Maj. Gen. Paulette Risher pins sergeant major stripes on Master Sgt. AndrewFarkas in August. Farkas graduates from the University of South Florida inDecember using the “Degree in Three” program. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jim Moser.

‘Degree in Three’

Financial Tips:Tuition Assistance ProgramThe Tuition Assistance Program provides financial

assistance for voluntary off-duty education programsin support of a service member’s professional and

personal self-development goals. Tuition assistanceis available for courses that are offered online, bycorrespondence or through other non-traditional

means. The Services will pay all or a portion of thecharges of an educational institution for the tuition

and expenses of its service members. For postsecondary education during off-duty periods, theServices will cover up to the newly establishedsemester hour cap of $250 and annual ceiling of$4,500. When an institution’s tuition and fees are$250 or less per semester hour (or equivalent), the

Services will pay 100 percent of the amount chargedby an institution. When an institution’s tuition and

fees exceed $250 per semester, the Service will pay$250 per semester hour (or equivalent) of credit. For

more information, please visit the DoD VoluntaryEducation site at www.voled.doded.mil.

Financial Aid FAFSAConsidering attending a college or career school?Which one to attend is one of the most important

decisions you need to make. Another is how to payfor the education. To help, the U.S. Department ofEducation offers a variety of student financial aid

programs, but a Free Application for Federal StudentAid (FAFSA) needs to be filled out first. Visit

www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Tuition Assistance Top-upOn Oct. 30, 2000, the President signed into law

an amendment to the Montgomery GI Bill — ActiveDuty education program that permits Veteran Affairs

to pay a Tuition Assistance Top — up benefit. The amount of the benefit can be equal to the

difference between the total cost of a college courseand the amount of Tuition Assistance that is paid by

the military for the course.For more information, log on to

www.gibill.va.gov/education/News/TATU.htm.

when compared to completing coursework on your own timeat night or weekends,” Ballard said. “For those tired of taking one course at a time, the opportunity to finish a degreewithin three semesters at USF represents a tremendousopportunity.”

An alternative program to obtain an undergraduatedegree is the command sponsored Enlightened Warriorprogram.

Information about Enlightened Warrior can be found atthe Joint Special Operations University website:www.hurlburt.af.mil/jsou/. The site has information about thefour universities participating in this program.

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Baxter, USSOCOM Joint IntelligenceTraining NCOIC, participated in this program and willgraduate in January with a degree in Business Administrationand Marketing from American Intercontinental University.

“I was attracted to the Enlightened Warrior programbecause of the quality of schools offered,” Baxter said. “Theschools were regionally accredited, plus the acceleratedprogram allowed me to finish my degree within 12 months.”

Personnel interested these programs can contact theUSSOCOM Joint Education Branch directly at DSN 299-9834 or commercial 813-828-9834.

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Baxter, U.S. Special Operations CommandJoint Intelligence Training NCOIC, used the EnlightenedWarrior program to obtain his bachelor’s degree in BusinessAdministration and Marketing from AmericanIntercontinental University. He graduates in January 2006.Photo by Capt. Joseph Coslett.


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10 commandments of nutrition

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By Capt. Frank Butler, Jr. and Patricia A. Deuster, PhDUSSOCOM

Nutrition is a topic of critical importance to everyone.Athletes want something to promote an increase in leanmuscle mass, improve strength, or shave minutes off theirrun, bike or swim times. Warriors want this too, but they alsowant ways to enhance their performance during physicallyand mentally demanding missions. Our country is fortunateenough to enjoy a well-fed culture, leading many Americansto want a quick fix to their weight problem – a pill or a dietto help them shed unwanted pounds. Another group can beconsidered supplement junkies. These people invest inexpensive vitamin, mineral and herbal preparationspromising to help them achieve whatever advertised life-enhancing result they desire. Finally there is a group that ishealth conscious; they maintain a regular exercise programand strive to select the right types of foods to ward offcardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis and otherdiseases in an effort to increase their longevity and generalhealth. Most of us fit into several of these categories at onetime or another.

Most Special Operations (SOF) warriors are interested insports and performance nutrition. The U.S. SpecialOperations Command Biomedical Research andDevelopment Program has focused on this need over theyears, and developed several nutrition information productsfor the SOF community.

This article is an update to the Ten Commandments ofNutrition first published in the SEAL professional journal“Full Mission Profile” in January of 1992.

Beware of Supplement BuccaneersThe first commandment deals with the topic of

“supplement buccaneers.” Are all claims made bysupplement products true? Hardly. For decades, the Food andDrug Administration (FDA) regulated most dietarysupplements as foods under the Food Drug and CosmeticAct. On Oct. 25, 1994, President Bill Clinton signed theDietary Supplements Health and Education Act (DSHEA), aregulation acknowledging consumers firmly believe dietarysupplements are safe and may confer health benefits.Through DSHEA, Congress expanded the meaning of dietarysupplements to include substances as ginseng, garlic, fishoils, psyllium, enzymes, glandulars, and other such mixtures.Unfortunately, DSHEA, in effect, increased the amount ofmisinformation disseminated to prospective customers andexpanded the types of products sold. Since its passage,hormones such as DHEA and melatonin are now considered

dietary supplements. Also, as a result of DSHEA, ingredientsin dietary supplements are not subject to pre-market safetyevaluations. The FDA does not evaluate any of thecommercially available products unless there are complaints.Numerous deaths were caused by ephedra compounds beforethey were removed from the market.

Although not all product claims are totally false, thebuyer must be skeptical of exaggerated claims maderegarding expensive nutritional products. The main benefit ofmost dietary supplements is to enhance the financial standingof the manufacturer, as most nutrition needs are easily met ata more reasonable price from the foods in a balanced diet.

Read the "Nutrition Facts" labelThe second commandment is straightforward and

simply states one should read labels on all packaged foodsand supplements prior to purchase. For food products, theinformation will vary, but all labels contain serving size,calories, and information on some key nutrients affectinghealth. Close attention should be paid to how many servingsare in the package. The number of calories listed refers toonly one serving, so if the package provides two or threeservings it is easy to underestimate the calories consumed.The number of calories from fat is also shown determiningthe percent of calories from fat. Nutrient labels also show theamount of saturated and trans fat. Trans fats have beenassociated with cardiovascular and coronary heart disease aswell as other health problems.

Food labels also provide information on other importantnutrients, including carbohydrate (CHO), protein, sodium,dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. Eachnutrient is given a percent of Daily Values (DVs),recommending levels of intake based on a 2,000 or 2,500-calorie diet. Energy-providing nutrients are protein, CHO,and fat. Proteins are building blocks for skeletal muscles,whereas CHO provide the energy we need to fuel our dailyactivities. Fats provide more than twice as many calories pergram compared to CHO or protein. Fats consumed in largequantities in your everyday diet will show up quickly in theform of extra pounds. Fats also have the undesirable effect ofelevating serum lipid levels (fats carried in the blood),associated with an increased risk of heart attack and strokes.Food products with a good source of vitamins and mineralswill also be listed on the label. Vitamins and minerals are notsources of energy, but are needed in small amounts tofacilitate certain chemical reactions in the body.

Being aware of the nature and amount of nutrientscontained in foods and supplements will help you adhere tothe additional recommendations provided below.Real food is better and cheaper than supplements


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The third commandment relates to the use ofvitamins and other supplement products. Dietarysupplement products include vitamins, minerals, botanicals,sports nutrition supplements, weight management products,and specialty supplements. The many commerciallyavailable products are designed as supplements, not asreplacements for a well-balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.In 1986 the U.S. dietary supplement industry in was only a$3 billion dollar industry. Sales were in excess of $20billion in 2004. This is big business.

Megadose quantities of vitamins and mineralsincrease the nutrient content of your bodily waste

Dietary supplements are often divided into three maincategories:

- Substances with established nutritional functions, suchas vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids

- Substances that serve other specific functions in thebody (e.g. pyruvate, chondroitin sulfate, and steroid hormoneprecursors). For example, chondroitin sulfate andglucosamine are claimed to enhance the structure andfunction of joint cartilage and thereby reduce joint pain.

- Herbs or botanical products and their concentrates andextracts

Vitamin deficiency states are rare in healthy, non-vegetarian, non-alcoholic, non-pregnant, and non-breastfeeding adult Americans. A small independent surveyreported by the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)revealed that about 60 percent of the military personnelsurveyed used a multivitamin supplement and manyindividuals also used various other types of supplements. Thenumbers of military high-dose vitamin takers are higher thanseen in non-military populations and this is of concern giveneach year many adverse events are reported in associationwith high-dose vitamin intake. Adverse effects may includeheadaches, central nervous system damage, liver failure,kidney stones, rhabdomyolysis, seizures, peptic ulcers, andeven death. If you feel compelled to take some form ofdietary supplement take a low dose “One-a-Day.” Note thatsupplemental iron is rarely indicated for men and may causeharm. Do not purchase multivitamin-mineral supplementsthat contain iron unless recommended by your physician.

You don’t need to eat those nasty-tasting protein powders to bulk upThe fourth commandment deals with a topic near

and dear to weightlifers and bodybuilders everywhere. Thequest for hugeness has resulted in many athletes and warriorsingesting massive quantities of protein and amino acidsupplements over the years. At present there is no evidence tosuggest protein supplements are required for optimal musclegrowth or strength gain. Protein intakes between 0.5 and 0.8grams per pound (90 to 140 grams for a 175 lb man) will

meet the needs of all SOF operators. In fact, virtually allstudies have shown protein intakes of 0.8 grams per pound ofbody weight are more than adequate for even the mostserious weightlifter or body builder, as long as the dietprovides sufficient energy.

0.8 gram of protein per pound body weight perday is the recommended protein intake, even for

the most serious weightlifter The best method for ensuring you are maintaining an

adequate caloric intake is to monitor your body weight.Weighing should be done at the same time every day,preferably first thing in the morning. A slow, steady declinefrom your normal weight indicates a negative energy balance.A rapid change in weight is more likely to reflect changes inhydration status. Be aware of fatigue and poor performance,as they may be other warning signs that you are in negativeenergy balance.

Based on the scientific data, we suggest that an intake ofmore than 0.8 gram of protein per pound per day would beunwise. Remember excess protein will be stored as unwantedbody fat. Good sources of high quality supplemental proteininclude chicken and fish.Limit fat intake to less than 30% of total calories

The fifth commandment refers to the intake ofdietary fat. Limiting dietary fat to less than 30 percent of totalcalories is an important factor in reducing the risk of heartdisease, stroke and perhaps some types of cancer.Minimizing fat intake is also very important in weightcontrol because fats are high in energy. Reading the label onfood products allows you to find the total calories in the itemand calculate the percentage of calories from fat. Take totalfat calories, divide by the total number of calories, andmultiply by 100. The number obtained should be no morethan 30 percent.

It is not necessary to eliminate all food items failing the

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S P E C I A L O P E R A T I O N S F O R C E SH E A D Q U A R T E R S U S S O C O M

fat test, but an effort should be made to limit high fat foodsand balance your diet with low-fat foods.

Read the nutrition labels of foods and avoid thosecontaining “trans fats” (otherwise known as hydrogenatedfats). These fats are man-made added or created during foodprocessing and are associated with significantly greater riskof heart disease.

Dehydration is a common cause of poor athleticperformance

The sixth commandment deals with the importanceof hydration. Water is the most abundant compound in thebody, comprising approximately 60 percent of our bodyweight. Proper hydration is critical since dehydration, or lossof body fluids, will compromise performance. Adequatehydration and sweating are crucial to your body's ability todissipate excess heat. Since intense exercise can producesweating rates of up to 1-2 liters per hours, a 170-poundindividual could lose 2 percent of his weight in less than anhour. A 4 percent loss of body weight can decreaseperformance by 25 percent. Athletes who exercise forextended periods of time, especially in hot and humidweather, are at high risk for dehydration. Warriors indeployed operational settings may also be at significant riskfrom chronic dehydration as fluid intake is reduced due toop-tempo, weight carriage restrictions, and a desire to avoidnighttime trips to the latrine.

The fluid lost during exercise should be replaced duringthe period of exercise if this period is more than about 30minutes. If this is not possible, the fluid should be replacedwithin a very short time after exercise. When possible, bodyweight should be measured before and after exercise toestimate fluid loss. The amount of weight lost represents agood estimate of the amount of fluid needed to promoteadequate rehydration. Other good indicators of adequatehydration are normal urinary frequency and urine pale incolor instead of deep yellow seen with dehydrated states.

Water, juice and sports drinks are good choices forreplacing fluid. Both water and sports beverages areimportant, but several issues should be considered whenselecting the best beverage. The usual beverage of choice formaintaining hydration status during exercise is water becauseit is readily absorbed and inexpensive. A general rule is wateris preferred for routine consumption and when the durationof the exercise is 60 minutes or less. Taking in excessivequantities of plain water may lead to life-threateninghyponatremia (low blood sodium), so more is not alwaysbetter. For acute fluid loss due to exercise of long duration(greater than 1 hour), fluids containing CHO and electrolytesare important to sustain performance and replace sodium andchloride lost through sweat.

The optimum CHO content for a sports drink is between4 and 8 percent (9 to 19 g of CHO per 8-oz. serving). The

taste and flavor of the beverage should be appealing soadequate amounts will be ingested. Also, the beverage shouldbe cool (between 59° and 72°F), rather than warm: Coolfluids are absorbed more rapidly.

In general, 16 oz of water or a sports drink should beingested two hours before exercise to assure adequatehydration. During exercise, fluids should be ingested atregular intervals. At least 4 to 8 oz should be ingested every15-20 minutes during heavy exercise. No more than 1 liter(approximately 1 quart) should be taken in each hour, unlessexercising in warm or hot conditions, in which case up to 1.5liters/hour may be consumed.

Take in CHO and protein immediately after prolonged, intense exercise

The seventh commandment is based on scientificevidence nutrition is important for maintaining performanceand accelerating recovery after training. Optimal physicaland mental performance requires CHO as a fuel. CHO isstored in muscle as glycogen and one hour of high intensityexercise can reduce glycogen levels by 55percent. Two tothree hours of strenuous exercise can deplete glycogen stores.A diet low in CHO can rapidly deplete glycogen stores andnegatively affect both short-term intense and prolongedexercise performance. A high CHO intake may also preventor reduce symptoms associated with overtraining.

Persons who ingest low CHO diets (20 to 100 grams perday) typically have reduced exercise tolerance and are unableto improve their performance through training. The massmarketing of low CHO foods should be of concern tomembers of USSOCOM. Information provided to the ODSindicated that 34 percent of a military sample were limitingtheir CHO intakes. This eating pattern could adversely affectboth athletic and mission performance. Daily CHO intake isdirectly related to an operator’s ability to sustainperformance, whether the activity is aerobic or anaerobic innature.

Given that dietary CHO is essential for maintaining andrepleting glycogen to support continued high levels ofactivity, all SOF personnel should be careful to consumesufficient amounts to meet their training needs. Whenundergoing regular training sessions, between 2 and 5 gramsof CHO/pound body weight should be consumed daily.Stated differently, approximately 55 to 70 percent of the totaldaily energy should come from CHO.

Athletes should go for the CARBS!After a vigorous training session or a prolonged and

strenuous mission, recovery can be accelerated by goodnutrition. Rapid replenishment of muscle and liver glycogenand providing amino acids to the muscles for repair are partof the recovery process. Both endurance and resistanceexercise alike can deplete glycogen stores and, exercisestimulates the breakdown of muscle proteins. Thus, what and


39

when foods are eaten following physical exertion becomesvery important for optimal recovery.

Consuming a healthy meal or snack containing CHO andsome protein is the best way to accelerate recovery aftertraining or missions. Strength and power athletes shouldconsume a mixture of CHO (0.2 to 0.5 gram CHO/poundbody weight) with some protein (up to 0.1 gram/pound bodyweight) within 30 minutes after a workout.

Within 30 minutes after prolonged enduranceactivities, 50 to 100 grams of CHO with 10 to 20

grams of protein should be consumedTaking in some protein with CHO should accelerate

glycogen repletion and enhance protein synthesis. Theamount of protein depends on the amount of CHO, but agood rule is that no more than 1 gram of protein should beeaten for every 4 grams of CHO. The timing is critical:Providing nutrients to the muscles within 30 minutes after aworkout will speed up recovery for the next one. Repeatingthis pattern of intake (CHO and protein) several hours latermay be beneficial if the exercise or mission has beenextremely strenuous.

Eat fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grainproducts every day

Commandment eight states that you should eatfresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, and highfiber products every day. A large body of evidence supportsthis recommendation both for performance and long-termhealth. Diets high in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterolare associated with an increased risk of obesity, cancer andcoronary heart/cardiovascular disease. In contrast, diets highin fiber, low in fat, fruits, vegetables, and grain products andare linked to a reduced risk.

The source of protein in the diet may also be important,as protein derived from soybeans, as compared to otherproteins, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Otherimportant foods include dairy products, olive oil and foodsproviding selenium (Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, cheese,chicken, eggs, garlic, green vegetables, whole wheat bread,and others). What is important to remember is the key toperformance and health is selecting whole foods. Althoughwe do not always know what role a particular nutrient in afood serves to protect against diseases, it is clear whole foodsand not supplements are most important.

Beware of ALL short-term dietsThe proliferation of fad diets is one of the least

distinguished chapters in our national health and nutritionhistory. The ninth commandment relates to the problemof diets and dieting. So many weight loss diet books andplans are available the general consumer don’t know who tobelieve. Some of the many are the South Beach Diet, AtkinsDiet, Scarsdale Diet, Russian Air Force Diet, and grapefruit

diet. Many authors of diet books have limited medical and/ornutrition training and base their diets on case studies,anecdotal reports, or vivid imaginations.

For most of the population, maintaining body weight isgoverned by a single basic principle: ‘energy in = energyout.’ If you take in more calories/energy than you expend,then the extra energy will be stored as fat. In contrast, if youexpend more calories than you take in, the body will find theneeded energy by reducing its own fat, protein and/or CHOstores. The only reasonable approaches to weight loss are toa) expend more energy through an increase in physicalactivity; b) take in fewer calories that you expend; or 3) acombination of a and b. Diets and diet plans that actuallywork recognize that behaviors must change. Short-term faddiets promoting rapid weight loss are generally useless andoccasionally harmful.

Effectively, one should not diet but rather develop morebeneficial eating and exercise behaviors. A well-planned andeffective diet will result in the loss of only about one poundeach week: About 3500 excess calories must be expended ornot ingested to lose one pound. The very rapid weight lossesclaimed by some diets are produced by temporary depletionof body water, cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances,and/or life-threatening irregular heartbeats. Overall, weightloss is best accomplished by moderate changes in dietarybehaviors and exercise patterns sustained over the long term.#1 nutrition-related disease in America is obesity

The tenth and last commandment is one of greatimportance for overall health. Obesity is the number onenutrition-related disease in the United States today.According to the National Institutes of Health, obesity and“overweight” together are the second leading cause ofpreventable death in the United States, close behind tobaccouse. Our affluence, marketing and availability of fast foodrestaurants, large portion sizes, and our increased dependenceon television, computers and video games for entertainmenthave all contributed to the crisis of “globesity. ”

Eating in the absence of hunger, such as during socialgatherings, is a habit to break. Decreasing food portion sizemay help to decrease caloric intake without requiring foodrestriction. One exception to this rule is when preparing for amission or an endurance athletic event. A little extra CHOmay be critical in this setting.

In summary, read the labels on your food products andselect your meals so each day you take in about 0.5 to 0.8gram (90 to 140 grams for a 175 lb operator) of protein perpound of body weight. Balance your energy needs with CHOand fats – be careful that fats contribute less than 30 percentof total calories. Fresh fruits, vegetables, rice and high fibercereals should be regulars. Getting carbs and fluids right ismost important. Lastly, when it comes to nutrition less isoften better.

H E A D Q U A R T E R S U S S O C O M

T

By Lt. Col. William SandersUSSOCOM SOAL-KA

The mission is to restore anabandoned airbase into a securedstaging location that can supportoperations for more than 1,000Soldiers. Up to 50 Soldiers will arriveweekly for the next three months.Office space, security, rental cars,water, mess facilities, and improvedroads will be needed as soon aspossible.

These orders are typical for acontingency contracting officer prior tocombat operations in Iraq orAfghanistan.

What is contingency contracting?Simply put, procure the supplies, services and constructionnecessary to support the mission of your customer. The U.S.Special Operations Command, specifically SOAL-KA,provides contingency contracting officers to forwarddeployed SOF units worldwide.

Since 9/11, more than one hundred USSOCOMwarranted CCO’s have procured over $200 million insupplies and services in direct support of SOF requirementsworldwide.

Contracting officers deploying with USSOCOM arecustomer smart. The CCO’s are generally assigned to AirForce Special Operations Command or U.S. Army SpecialOperations Command elements working along side theirfuture customers.

They understand the customer is mission focused,deploys in small teams with little augmentation, and theirfootprint must be minimal. With these characteristics, itbecomes imperative the CCO not only understand theurgency required to conduct operations, but move therequirements quickly.

Special Forces CCO’s must also be able to anticipaterequirements. Sitting back and waiting for operators to fillyou in on what’s necessary hinders the mission. Often theSOF CCO will grab a local engineer and deploy on anadvance team to begin assessing the requirements for themission.

Requirements like porta-potties, bottled water, tentage,roads, and food are necessary staples needed by follow-onforces. Minor construction for remote base camps requires a

significant amount of coordination with engineers andembassy personnel prior to contracting with locals. Thespeed needed to procure these items and or services cannotbe over-emphasized.

Before warranting, SOAL-KA requires a minimum ofone year of contracting experience, a minimum level ofcontracting courses (level one certification), and CON 234(Contingency Contracting). The most important requirementby far is experience. It is imperative the CCO has operated asa contracting officer in prior jobs. SOF’s missions are not thetraining ground for new contracting officers.

The CCO must be innovative and resourceful. SOFCCOs will most likely be the first contracting officer on thescene. Resources will be low, but requirements high. Aknowledge of shipping regulations, road routes, currencyfluctuations and all facets of logistics to fulfill the multitudeof responsibilities are necessary.

In limited cases SOF CCO’s are asked to be not only thecontracting officer, but also the paying agent. In these cases,it becomes instrumental the SOF CCO understands theintricate world of finance rules and regulations.

Finally, it is vital for a SOF CCO to know andunderstand their environment. The CCO often operatesdowntown in the commercial arena and therefore must befully aware of the local threat.

As Gen. Doug Brown, USSOCOM commander, hasstated, our forward presence is something we need to getaccustomed to in the near term. SOF CCO’s have made adifference by ensuring our SOF warriors are provided thebest supplies and services available.

Afghan contractors work on building a wall around the Afghani Border Police(ABP) compound in Dochina, Afghanistan. The construction will result in brandnew border police checkpoints. Photo by Pfc. Michael Zuk.

Contingency contracting officers supportingSOF operators


40

S P E C I A L O P E R A T I O N S F O R C E S H I S T O R Y


41

T

By Cmdr. Linda Herlocker and Senior Airman Darren RaybornUSSOCOM History Office

The human cost of war does not end when the Soldiersgo home. Ravaged economies must mend, cities mustrebuild, and the “litter” left behind must be cleared. Whenthe last of the Soviet forces finally pulled out ofAfghanistan in 1989, they left behind a devastatedlandscape peppered with millions of landmines. More than5 million refugees needed to be repatriated, but landmineskilled and maimed thousands who tried to return to theirhomes.

In mid-1988, the United Nations asked the UnitedStates to participate in Safe Passage to provide mineawareness and mine clearing training for Afghan refugees.Finally in November 1988, the United States and the UNhad defined the course of action. This course of actionwould be “develop a curriculum that a multinational UNteam can use to train Afghan cadres. These Afghan cadreswill in turn train Afghan refugees.” This would includeremoving and/or destroying mines. By the end ofNovember 1988, two Special Forces personnel haddeployed for a site survey. In January 1989,approximately 40 Special Operations Forces(SOF) personnel, to include SF, Civil Affairs, andPsychological Operations Soldiers, arrived inPakistan.

The training of foreign military personnel is aspecial operations mission, so despite the Armyengineers’ experience with mines, this mission fellto SOF Soldiers. The SF instructors did welcomeand use information developed by the Armyengineers for training purposes. Safe Passageconsisted of “mine awareness” (training Afghanson how to spot, mark, report, and avoid mines) and “train-the-trainer” (imparting this training toothers). By using this approach, the UN hoped tohave 15,000 demining teams in place within sixmonths.

The first group of SOF in Pakistan found acomplex milieu of media and humanitarian aidorganizations, not enough training equipment, andno effective Afghan government or chain ofcommand. Another item of concern was the SFtrainers could not wear their uniform and couldnot carry weapons even for self-defense. They

were first required to wear the UN uniform since this was aUN operation. The Afghans, however, thought the UNuniform looked too much like the Russian uniform, so SFSoldiers were authorized to wear civilian clothing. By thetime the rest of the UN trainers arrived, the SOF instructorshad made models of mines for use as training aids, taughtmine awareness to 150 Afghans, and added another sixhours of first aid training to the curriculum.

The UN participants and Afghans did not readily acceptthe “train-the-trainer” concept. But gradually, the “train-the-trainer” concept took hold, and by the end of the first year,Safe Passage had graduated 45 Afghan instructors and morethan 5,500 deminers. By the end of March 1990, Afghaninstructors taught all demining classes, and the UN began tocut back on personnel. The operation had trained more than12,000 deminers by January 1991 when Operation SafePassage officially ended.

Special Operations Forces success in Safe Passagecreated a demand for humanitarian mine clearing effortselsewhere in the world. SOF have been sent on deminingmissions to such places as Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, to name a just few, as part of PresidentClinton’s commitment to eliminate the threat of landminesto civilians by 2010.

SOF leads de-mining campaign inOperation Safe Passage

Examples of unexploded ordnance compiled before being destroyed inBamyan, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Ronald Mitchell.

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SSSSggtt SSccootttt SSaatthheerrSSSSggtt SSccootttt SSaatthheerrCCWW44 CChhrriiss SScchheerrkkeennbbaacchhCCWW44 CChhrriiss SScchheerrkkeennbbaacchhSSGGTT DDaannttoonn SSeeiittssiinnggeerrSSGGTT DDaannttoonn SSeeiittssiinnggeerr

CCPPLL TTiimmootthhyy SShheeaaCCPPLL TTiimmootthhyy SShheeaaLLTTCC AAnntthhoonnyy SShheerrmmaannLLTTCC AAnntthhoonnyy SShheerrmmaann

SSSSggtt AAnniissssaa SShheerrooSSSSggtt AAnniissssaa SShheerrooLLTTCC AAllbbeerrtt SSmmaarrttLLTTCC AAllbbeerrtt SSmmaarrtt

MMAAJJ CChhaarrlleess SSoolltteessMMAAJJ CChhaarrlleess SSoolltteessSSFFCC CChhrriissttoopphheerr SSppeeeerrSSFFCC CChhrriissttoopphheerr SSppeeeerr

SSGGMM MMiicchhaaeell SSttaacckkSSGGMM MMiicchhaaeell SSttaacckkPPFFCC NNaatthhaann SSttaahhllPPFFCC NNaatthhaann SSttaahhllLLtt CCooll JJoohhnn SStteeiinnLLtt CCooll JJoohhnn SStteeiinn

SSPPCC KKrriissttooffoorr SSttoonneessiiffeerrSSPPCC KKrriissttooffoorr SSttoonneessiiffeerrPPOO22 JJaammeess SSuuhhPPOO22 JJaammeess SSuuhh

PPOO22 EErriicc SSuuttttoonnPPOO22 EErriicc SSuuttttoonnSSGGTT PPhhiilliipp SSvviittaakkSSGGTT PPhhiilliipp SSvviittaakkSSSSGG PPaauull SSwweeeenneeyySSSSGG PPaauull SSwweeeenneeyy

MMAAJJ PPaauull SSyyvveerrssoonnMMAAJJ PPaauull SSyyvveerrssoonnPPOO11 DDaavviidd TTaappppeerrPPOO11 DDaavviidd TTaappppeerr

CCPPTT MMiicchhaaeell TTaarrllaavvsskkyyCCPPTT MMiicchhaaeell TTaarrllaavvsskkyyPPOO11 JJeeffffrreeyy TTaayylloorrPPOO11 JJeeffffrreeyy TTaayylloorrSSFFCC JJoohhnn TTaayylloorrSSFFCC JJoohhnn TTaayylloorr

CCPPLL PPaattrriicckk TTiillllmmaannCCPPLL PPaattrriicckk TTiillllmmaannSSSSggtt JJoohhnn TTeeaallSSSSggtt JJoohhnn TTeeaall

CCPPTT JJeeffffrreeyy TToocczzyylloowwsskkiiCCPPTT JJeeffffrreeyy TToocczzyylloowwsskkiiSSFFCC PPeetteerr TTyycczzSSFFCC PPeetteerr TTyycczzSSSSGG GGeennee VVaanncceeSSSSGG GGeennee VVaannccee

SSFFCC BBrreetttt WWaallddeennSSFFCC BBrreetttt WWaallddeennSSSSggtt TThhoommaass WWaallkkuuppSSSSggtt TThhoommaass WWaallkkuuppTTSSggtt HHoowwaarrdd WWaalltteerrssTTSSggtt HHoowwaarrdd WWaalltteerrssCCaapptt GGiill WWiilllliiaammssoonnCCaapptt GGiill WWiilllliiaammssoonn

SSGGTT RRooyy WWooooddSSGGTT RRooyy WWooooddSSGGTT JJeerreemmyy WWrriigghhttSSGGTT JJeerreemmyy WWrriigghhttSSFFCC MMiicckkeeyy ZZaauunnSSFFCC MMiicckkeeyy ZZaauunn

who lost their livesg Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and g Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and

ism will never be forgotten

An U.S. Army sergeant from the 362nd Psychological Operations Battalion gets ready totake off on a night leaflet drop mission over the District of Shawali-Kot, Sept. 26. Theleaflets are part of a campaign to encourage citizens of Afghanistan to turn in Anti-coalitionMilitia (ACM), support the government and to cease firing on American and coalitionforces. Photo by Pfc. Leslie Angulo.

Night Flyer

marine corps special operations command activated soal-t

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